Delving Deeper.

Delving Deeper.

When we know how to study the bible as against just reading it, we find all the hidden gems. In a previous post to this one (Getting the Most out of God’s Word), I wrote on how to dig deep into God’s word. In digging a little deeper even in just the first few chapters, right from the beginning of the bible, we can see what we haven’t seen before. And that works all the way through the Good Book. Delving deeper will bring greater clarity and further understanding of God and His word.

Gen 2:17 God told Adam not to eat of the tree, before He made Adam a helper. Eve wasn’t there to hear the version of that conversation, although Adam must have passed this knowledge on to Eve, otherwise the serpent wouldn’t have queried as to whether God really did say not to eat of the tree. Eve did embellish the story, when she said “we must not touch it.”

When God speaks to us, we must be careful also, not to embellish. Moses over emphasised when he struck the rock in anger (Numbers 20:8-11) and water flowed out of that rock. This embellishment, this over emphasising, resulted in him being unable to enter the promised land.

Gen 3:15 The serpent had seed, but it was Eve’s Seed which will bruise. Seed with a capital S. And He shall bruise the serpent’s head and the serpent shall bruise His heel…that’s because, later Jesus trod on the serpent (evil), as He overcame death.

This was a promise of future fulfilment. The word enmity indicates a blood feud. The woman’s Seed, Jesus, was killed by satan (no, I won’t capitalize this evil name) but He rose again. The blood feud having taken effect, the but future fulfilment of the Risen Lord was the fatal blow to the serpent. He knew it then and knows it now and it fills him with dread and terror.

Gen 4:7 Sin lay at the door and its desire is for you (every man). Rule over it, or it will rule over you. (When we’re dissatisfied, we’re more vulnerable to sin.) If we put our soul satisfaction before our relationship to God, we will more easily be enticed into sinning. The secret to living in joy is in Spirit-dwelling and in being content, whether rich or poor.

And after you sin you shall be, according to Gen 4:12, a fugitive and a vagabond. After Cain murdered his brother, he dwelt in the land of Nod, which means to wander. Nod; defined as moved, agitated. A Hebrew root of the verb; to wander.

So, you can see, as you delve deeper, as you study, and as you look at the concordance, and find articles on the internet, you’ll peel back the layers within the word of God and He will show you great and might things. “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3)

Don’t read your bible just to tick a box on your to-do list. Read it with the intention of getting to know God, His character, His love for His people, His winning strategies for war. Then you shall live a life of peace, abundance, success and love and they’re all promises of God; promises you can count on for God’s word doesn’t lie.