The Lord Was Grieved 

     We know God is capable of emotion, disappointment and reaction. Everyone on earth was about to experience...anger. But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. 

     In Noah God had a man who sought communion with him. By God's grace he lived by faith (Hebrews 11:7). He was another preacher of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5).

     Unlike Enoch, taken up, Noah was told to work, to build an ark 450 by 75 by 45 feet...with no blueprints or lumber companies to supply material. And no experience.

     Noah was 600 years old by the time he and his three sons with their wives were ready to launch, to shove off, to weigh anchor, to... Okay. Noah didn't even have to close the door himself. The future of civilization was at stake, and God was Captain...of everything. 

     Months later the ark settled on dry land - somewhere - and the people, animals, critters and birds all disembarked. 

     God blessed Noah and his sons, giving them the right to "everything," except meat with lifeblood still in it. 

     He would also, "surely demand an accounting for...the life of a fellow man." Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man (Genesis 9:6). 

     Then God established a covenant with Noah and his sons and their descendants, and with all living creatures. Never again would he cut off life by flooding. He set "my rainbow in the clouds," a sign of covenant between himself and the earth.  

     God was no longer angry. We think maybe he was sad. 

 Next: the great divide

The genesis of this multi-part series

     It began orderly, and it was "good." 

     Then the first couple let a talking "serpent" lie to them. Just a bite. The Owner evicted them from his exceedingly bountiful property. 

     Some religious people don't think that Adam's failure introduced the fixed law of sin and death for the human race...all of us. Why is it written? In any case, the first couple isn't to blame for our failures. 

     We are born with the same innate desire to go our own way. No matter how "good" we may become, we are never good enough to enter the exceedingly bountiful property above. No way! Unless...

     More about that later.  

     Civilization began to form. Did they ever! Adam lived 930 years. Seth: 912. Enosh: 905. Kenan: 910. Jerad: 962. Who was counting?

     Jared's son Enoch only lived 365 years. Cancer? No. Enoch walked with God as a prophet who warned the ungodly (Jude vv. 14-15) and God translated him to his kingdom above. 

     Before he departed, Enoch fathered Methuselah, who set the record, 969 years. Talk about family genes... 

     All that longevity produced civilization, but wickedness grew as well, and every inclination of the thoughts of his (man's) heart was only evil all the time (Genesis 6:5). 

Tomorrow: Noah, who also walked with God

     

Isaiah, the Yo-Yo Book 

Chapter subtitles

34 - Judgment Against the Nations 

35 - Joy of the Redeemed 

37 - Jerusalem's Deliverance Foretold 

40 - Comfort for God's People 

41 - The Helper of Israel 

42 & 49 - The Servant of the Lord

43 - Israel's only Savior ... God's Mercy and Israel's Unfaithfulness  

44 - Israel the Chosen

46-47 - Gods of Babylon ... The Fall of Babylon

48 - Stubborn Israel 

50 - Israel's Sin and the Servant's Obedience 

51 - Everlasting Salvation for Zion ... The Cup of the Lord's Wrath

52-53 - The Suffering and Glory of the Servant

54 & 60 - The Future Glory of Zion 

55 - Invitation to the Thirsty 

56 - Salvation for Others

57 - Comfort for the Contrite

58 - True Fasting 

59 - Sin, Confession and Redemption 

61 - The Year of the Lord's Favor 

62 - Zion's New Name 

63-64 - God's Day of Vengeance and Redemption ... Praise and Prayer

65 - Judgment and Salvation

66 - Judgment and Hope 

Next: New Testament fulfillment 

  

  

The Up & Down Book 

Following up on Isaiah 9:6-7, it might be interesting - and educational - to explore the subtitles of Isaiah's 66 chapters, written in 700-680 B.C.

1 - A Rebellious Nation 

2 - The Mountain of the Lord ... The Day of the Lord

3 - Judgment on Jerusalem and Judah 

4 - The Branch of the Lord

6 - Isaiah's Commission 

7 - The Sign of Immanuel 

8 - Fear God

9 - To Us a Child is Born ... The Lord's Anger Against Israel

11 - The Branch from Jesse 

12 - Songs of Praise 

13-21, 23, 28, 30, 31 - Prophecies Against Other Nations

22 - A Prophecy About Jerusalem 

24 - The Lord's Devastation of the Earth 

25 - Praise to the Lord 

27 - Deliverance of Israel 

29 - Woe to David's City 

33 - Distress ... Help

Continued tomorrow

Humanity: Solving the Problem 

     "The book of Isaiah is like a yo-yo, up and down. The Lord goes from righteous judgment to gracious reconciliation, and back around. 

by Janie B. Cheaney

     "In human terms, this is the Divine Dilemma. Parents: If there is love for your child, though complicated, there is also pain. Love is risking oneself amid the unknown. 

     "It is hard enough for parents when a child turns on them. But what do you do if you are God? 

     "One choice: Let the 'children' destroy Your house, ignore Your rules and leave Your righteousness in the dirt. Another choice: Judgment. Stop everything and punish. You are still God. You win...but not really. Your grand experiment fails and Satan laughs.

     "Third option: For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. Notice the extravagant language: mighty God, everlasting Father.   

     "The child is promised to a virgin who wonders, "How can this be?" 

     "Amid agonized and wrathful pronouncements against Mt. Zion and all surrounding nations, a Man emerges:  

     "A promised child, like Isaac and Samson,    

         from the seed of Jesse, like David,    

            a servant and prophet, like Moses,    

                a sacrificial victim,  ...like no one else. 

"He alone is the resolution and reconciler for an impossible dilemma."

Isaiah 9:6-7

 

We Thought Covid Was Bad

     Is a greater killer coming? To kill the elderly? To transform America?

     Twice we've seen Sen. Rand Paul on TV answering questions about "research" in China. The effort to experiment with deadly disease - for what purpose? - is underway in several locations, including the military! 

     Does this interest anyone?

     We have heard, and Sen. Paul said, it is estimated this disease would kill anywhere from 5% to 50% of people on earth. Take us back to the 14th century. Oh well, the lucky people would carry on. 

     No. If half the population is doomed, that could mean half the health care, the military, law enforcement, those who provide food, those who run the economy...and you can complete the list. 

     Chaos. Weakness. 

     Why did China give the world covid? Never mind their own citizens who also paid the price. Was it a test? Will this precede our election? 

     Why is the National Institute of Health tight lipped? Why does the U.S. fund this "research?" Why do American leftists want our population to shrink? Good for the climate? No! Vulnerable elderly are more conservative voters. The younger...more easily influenced.  

     China has been sending fentanyl, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths. President Biden asked them to stop, pretty please? Can we believe them? Was he serious?

     China thinks they are the center of the world, and they have the right and duty to rule. So why wouldn't this godless nation want to weaken us without firing a shot?  

     If only 5% die, 6 million, we'll consider that a blessing???  

          Jimmy

 

we invite God to the blog

Come all you who are thirsty... 

     Isaiah 55: God invites Israelites to return to him... promises salvation to those with spiritual hunger and thirst for forgiveness and a right relationship with God, based on the sacrificial death of the (Servant-Lord > Isaiah 52).

Seek the Lord... 

     while (in captivity) there is still the promise. ((Jeremiah 29:13-14). A day is coming when he will refuse to be found.   

See, I have made him a witness...

     You (missionaries) will summon the nations...that do not know you, they will hasten to you, because of the Lord our God, the Holy One of Israel...

Seek the Lord while he may be found...

     Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts... (warning: Hebrews 3:7-11)

My thoughts are not your thoughts... 

     Human minds and hearts seek him...our thoughts and ways begin to conform to him.

As the rain waters the earth...

     so is my word that goes out...it will accomplish what I desire...

As the heavens are higher than the earth...

     so are my ways higher than your ways... 

So is my word that goes out from my mouth...

     it will not return to me empty, for I will accomplish what I desire...

This will be for the Lord's renown...

     for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed.