God's Name

You'll come across it all the time in the Bible: God's name. You'll see it in so many forms. He's called Yahweh, I am that I am (or "I will be who/what I will be" depending on translation), El Shaddai, the Elohim, El Roi, Lord of hosts/armies, and sometimes simply The Name.

Why is God's name so important that it's brought up repeatedly? First, the Hebrews were surrounded by nations who had their own "gods," and they wanted to make sure to differentiate their One True God from all the others. Back in the Old Testament, when God "left" the other nations to the "foreign gods" after they abandoned Him at the tower of Babel, the Hebrews were brought out from this confusion to start over with God as the light for all. He'd always intended to save us all, and to do that, we needed to know who He is.

There is power in a name. It signifies an identity, of course, but also the characteristics and reputation of that identity. God is not like the other "gods," who were like fallen humans with some magic capabilities or like distant stars that left people to their destinies with little care.

We learn His characteristics:

He's holy.

Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. - Matthew 6:9

He's a place of refuge.

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. - Proverbs 18:10

He is salvation.

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. - Acts 4:12

He was the same God of all the righteous people He'd called on before. He is the uncreated creator.

Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I am who (that) I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I am has sent me to you.’” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. - Exodus 3:13-15

He existed first and will always exist.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” - Revelation 1:8

He is our Father and comforter.

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” - Romans 8:15

He is the only way, truth, and life.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. - John 14:6

He is our healer.

Saying, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer.” - Exodus 15:6

He has the ultimate power and knowledge above all others.

Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name? Surely you know! - Proverbs 30:4

He is jealous as He's the One who created, loves, and guides you. Why would you follow another?

...for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God - Exodus 34:14

He is very serious about His reputation as it's how His people will know Him. He is all the above characteristics and more.

“Therefore, behold, I will make them know, this once I will make them know my power and my might, and they shall know that my name is the Lord.” - Jeremiah 16:21

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, - Matthew 28:19

Therefore my people shall know my name. Therefore in that day they shall know that it is I who speak; here am I.” - Isaiah 52:6

You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord. - Leviticus 19:12

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. - Exodus 20:7

Just skimming the Bible, you'll find that names were important to God and the Hebrews for signifying the essence of a being, including humans. Names were changed when the person made a change in their identity. They were usually assigned a name change by God Himself.

Abram (high father) became Abraham (father of a multitude) when he was promised descendants as numerous as the sands and stars. Sarai (princess) became Sarah (mother of nations) as she would be the mother of the multitude. Jacob (supplanter) became Israel (to strive with) when God told him he'd no longer be known by his trickery but rather by his striving with God. Simon (God has heard) became Peter (rock) when he became a disciple and Jesus declared he would be the rock of His church.

What is the meaning of your name, and what do you believe God would call you? Have you experienced a deep change in identity like those in the Bible?

So will I ever sing praises to your name, as I perform my vows day after day. - Psalms 61:8

Sources outside of the Bible:

https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/why-it-matters-that-god-is-yahweh.html
https://thebibleproject.com/podcast/theme-god-e10-gods-name-character/
https://thebibleproject.com/podcast/theme-god-e13-what-gods-name-feat-dr-michael-heiser/
https://drmsh.com/the-naked-bible/yhwh/

Divine Council

There are a great many concepts that exist within the Bible that most people tend to miss the first time around. I know I did. I made a great deal of assumptions on the meanings of things based on modern theology, culture, and norms. Little did I know that something as awesome as this existed. So, here's something I'll let you in on: the Divine Council.

In Hebrew, there is a word thrown around a lot in the Word: Elohim. This word was used to refer to the One True God, false or foreign gods, angels, afterlife spirits (1 Samuel 28:13), Moses (as God's middle man), the judges (this is debated; Exodus 21:6), and the Messianic king (Psalms 45:7). Soooo, what does Elohim mean, actually?

Elohim is a word that can be both plural and singular (like "sheep"), which can be understood in context. It means something like "spirit," or "being of the spiritual realm." It can refer to God, Himself, since He's also a being of that spiritual realm, or of any other being in that realm, which includes angels, beings pagans worshipped, and any number of other life forces. Sometimes, writers of the Old Testament didn't use the word Elohim. Sometimes, they referred to spiritual beings as the "hosts of heaven, "assembly of the holy ones," "stars," or "messengers."

This may seem like a strange concept to us, but it wasn't to the Hebrews. There was an ancient understanding that there are two realms, the physical and the spiritual, and while many beings didn't transverse the two, there were many who did. God, that is the Elohim of Elohim (God of gods or the highest being of all) created them all and exists in both or neither. We may better understand these realms as dimensions.

In sections written in Greek, they used the word Theos to refer to God as His title because they didn't have a word similar to the Hebrew Elohim. However, as the writers of the New Testament described the attributes of God or explained Jesus' sacrifice, they still utilized these concepts, by referring to spiritual beings as "powers and authorities," in this example referring to fallen elohim.

And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. - Colossians 2:15

Back to the Divine Council.

Just as there are leaders and powers in this physical realm, which God has allowed, there are leaders and powers in the spiritual realm as well. Maybe one way to describe this is like a company where maybe the Father is the Founder, Jesus is the CEO, and the leaders are managers, regional directors, etc. This metaphor may not be perfect, but I wanted to emphasize that in this company, God is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient, so He doesn't really "need" any one below. However, His personality is such that He desires communion and shares authority with others. This is where we come into the picture.

Since the beginning, God has been working on making us a sort of ambassador or cohabiter between realms. We exist here, in the physical, but we are also spiritual.

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:26-28

We were meant to be part of the Divine Council along with the "hosts of heaven" and the "assembly of the holy ones." However, the Bible is vague as to why some angels fell (like Eden's snake) and have attempted to overturn God's plans to save humanity to turn them into His children and thus into holy Council members. Some say the fallen angels believed humans are animals compared to them, and they were jealous of God's lofty plans for them. Some say they were jealous we could procreate and "create" others. Nothing says exactly, so it could be an entire drama behind the scenes that we're just not aware of at this time.

You will find many instances where God confers with His council members for their ideas on plans and situations. See Genesis where He's constantly speaking with someone (some say this could just be Father, Son, and Holy Spirit conversing), Job where the righteous man was tested by a Satan figure, or deciding the best plan to oust the evil King Ahab in 1 Kings.

God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment... Psalm 82:1

Let it be known that this concept of a divine council, like pretty much everything, is debated. Read the Bible and pray for the answer to be revealed. If we are to be Council Members with God, praying is essentially filling the role you were made for: sitting down with God amongst His council and asking for His help.

God bless!

Sources other than Bible:
Podcasts -
The Bible Project - Spiritual Warfare
The Naked Bible

Books -
The Unseen Realm

Websites -
http://themelios.thegospelcoalition.org/review/the-unseen-realm-recovering-the-supernatural-worldview-of-the-bible
https://www.thedivinecouncil.com/
https://www.miqlat.org/what-the-bible-teaches-about-a-divine-council.htm
https://blogs.ancientfaith.com/wholecounsel/2018/08/29/gods-divine-council/
https://www.deseretnews.com/article/765621073/Old-Testament-divine-council-called-a-sod.html
https://blog.logos.com/2018/03/two-ways-study-divine-council/
https://glorywaters.org/2018/03/23/does-the-bible-teach-a-divine-council/
https://nakedbiblepodcast.com/podcast/naked-bible-249-did-israelites-view-their-judges-as-gods/

Good Resources for a Growing Relationship with God

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7

I attempt to write a new blog every week or so, and some of the topics I study are entirely reliant on the Bible alone. However, I would be remiss to say that I need only my own knowledge to understand these, many times, complicated and controversial subjects that exist in an ancient book written in a foreign language and culture. I'm not an island and have only casual skills in Biblical study. As such, I want to spread the best resources I've personally read or listened to in order to delve into the pages of God's love letter. These are websites, podcasts, and books by Bible scholars, historians, and ancient language experts who know their stuff. No amateurs here cause, yeah, I'm amateur enough. I don't want the blind leading the blind.

This is far from comprehensive, and it's important to remember that developing any relationship with God comes through a natural curiosity about Him. He doesn't exist only in these sources or even just in sources typically considered "spiritual" or "Christian" or "Jewish." Sometimes, we can find Him by finding where He isn't. Everything can be an influence on us, so tread carefully before fully believing anything. However, don't avoid sources just because they seem archaic, mysterious, far-fetched, or down right incorrect on first impression. I'm reminded of Jesus sitting down with the tax-collectors, prostitutes, including a thief in His inner circle, and healing those so contagious with disease no one else would dare tread near. You may find God in the most unlikely of places. Just keep your ears open to hear His voice. Believe me, He's already speaking.


Websites:
logos.com
biblicalarchaelogy.org
equip.org
bible.org
biblestudytools.com (also contains Strong's Concordance)
biblegateway.com
biblehub.com
eliyah.com (also contains Strong's Concordance)
blueletterbible.com
thebibleproject.com
drmsh.com


Podcasts:
The Bible Project
Naked Bible

Books:
The Unseen Realm by Michael Heiser
A Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius
What Does the Bible Say About by Brian Ridolfi
Rose Book of Bible Charts, Maps, & Time Charts
What the Bible is All About by Dr. Henrietta Mears


If you know any more good sources, please share, and I'll add them to my next post on "Good Resources for a Growing Relationship with God."

God bless!

How the Bible, Fairy Tales, and Judicial Branch are Related

Some unbelievers like to call the Bible a fairy tale, but did you know there actually is a similarity in their purpose?

There is such a disconnect between the mind set and cultural norms between our modern world in the West and the ancient world in the East that it's easy to misunderstand where the writers of the Bible were coming from. Did you know there are 613 laws in the Old Testament? Did you know Torah (the first give books of the Bible) is not correctly translated as the Law but as Instruction or Revelation? In fact, our understanding of law and judges are not the same as the understanding of people living in the Old Testament.

We are a society with statutory law. In other words, nowadays, judges use detailed written law codes to make judgements. Back then, as sources state, they used a fluid wisdom tradition or an "intuition of justice with a background of cultural norms" (bibleproject). It was not formulaic. They relied on the morality of the judges. Now, we hope they are moral, but they are still allowed to make judgements as they are no longer considered the authority: the law is.

The laws as described in the Old Testament included both natural, obvious transgressions and other customary wisdoms, which could be fluid within reason. For instance, "Don't murder" is obviously a good rule for ever and everywhere. There are exceptions even in that law, present even in the Bible (i.e. self-defense, warfare, etc.). Some are murkier like "Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard" (Leviticus 19:27). This is generally agreed to be a practice done by other nations who were idolaters either in the worship of their gods or in excessive, immoderate mournings. This is, in our western modern world, not a known practice that still exists. If you're cutting the sides of your head or beard, you probably aren't doing it because you worship other gods. This is what the laws boil down to. Most of the odd laws in the Bible are simply clarifying, for the people of that time and place, the main commandments such as the Big 10 (i.e.Don't worship other gods).

Fast forward to the 1800's Germany, there were two brothers whose father was a lawyer. They were librarians, writers, and scholars. The two professions collided when they decided to collect old tales from across Germany.

What compelled the (Brothers) Grimm to concentrate on old German epics, tales, and literature was a belief that the most natural and pure forms of culture—those which held the community together—were linguistic and based in history. According to them, modern literature, even though it might be remarkably rich, was artificial and thus could not express the genuine essence of Volk culture that emanated naturally from experience and bound the people together. Therefore, all their efforts went toward uncovering stories from the past. (neh.gov)

They'd realized that old tales, passed down to children throughout the ages, held the collective moral conscience and what it meant to be a German. Publication of their collected tales spurred several other European countries to do the same (neh.gov/notablebio).

In the same way, the writers of the Bible were writing down history, stories, poetry, much of which were previously conveyed before by oral traditions in order to pass down the collective moral conscience of the community and what it meant to be a Child of God. Throughout most of history, people just didn't think to write every single thing down, but at some point someone realized that it might be important preserve this sense of right and wrong and sense of cultural identity for future generations.

By the time Jesus arrived on Earth as a human, there were several sects of Judaism who were seeing the Old Testament in more of a statuary law sense. This is what people call legalism. It can sprout many rabbit trails, which begin to make things impossible.

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. Matthew 5:17-22

The law remained the law. The collective knowledge of God's ways and truths remained His truths. However, as Jesus explains, some people were so tied up in correcting people over washing of hands and plucking an ear of corn on the Sabbath that they failed to see that these laws were there to promote a gentle, loving soul. The heart and spirit of the laws were not about just abstaining from causing death: they were about raising up to life.

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40

Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, “Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash their hands before they eat.”

Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said: ‘Honor your father and mother’a and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ But you say that if anyone says to his father or mother, ‘The help you would have received from me has been given to God,’ he need not honor his father or mother with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you:

‘These people honor Me with their lips,

but their hearts are far from Me.

They worship Me in vain;

they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’ ...

“Do you not yet realize that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then is eliminated? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things defile a man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander. These are what defile a man, but eating with unwashed hands does not defile him.” Matthew 15:1-20

Jesus was returning their attention to the spirit of the law, which boils down to the collective moral conscience of the Israelite people.

It's important to know where the writers and intended readers of the Bible were coming from in context of their own culture, time period, assumed mores, etc. It helps us to fully understand the messages they're trying to convey.

God bless!



https://www.notablebiographies.com/Gi-He/Grimm-Brothers.html
https://www.neh.gov/humanities/2015/marchapril/feature/how-the-grimm-brothers-saved-the-fairy-tale
http://www.yashanet.com/library/under2.htm
https://reformjudaism.org/learning/torah-study/va-etchanan/torah-rules-or-wisdom
http://www.helsinki.fi/teol/pro/_merenlah/oppimateriaalit/text/english/judaism.htm

Podcast:
The Bible Project - Law as a Revolution (and others)

Threefold Cord - Better Together

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus... And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God. -Philippians 1:4-11

Do you ever encourage other believers in their faith?

It seems a rare thing to hear anyone encourage others, especially without prompting, in any area of life. More often, we're quick to complain about others or point out each other's flaws. At best, we just follow the idiom that if you have nothing nice to say, it's better to say nothing at all. We rarely, if you're anything like me, point out other's good points, especially in matters of faith.

Speaking about matters of faith is uncomfortable to me. Yes, me, the one with blog all about what I've learned about God and faith that week. I can sit pretty comfortably behind a screen and figure out the answers to questions. I can spin a few words together to make a semi-coherent statement. However, place me face-to-face with another person, and I avoid eye contact when someone speaks about God. This is one of my weaknesses. It's not that I'm ashamed, but I feel inadequate eloquently explaining my beliefs or my relationship with God. I feel like I wouldn't do it or God justice. I also hate conflict, particularly in this area, because God is so close to my heart, I feel pained if anyone speaks against Him. I should pray on that.

I don't know how Paul, who wrote the above letter to the Church of Philippi, was with speaking face-to-face, but he could only write in this instance since he was confined in prison. He seemed to be the type of person to travel and try to see the various churches (or start them) in person, if that were at all possible. He probably would've preferred standing in front of the new Christians and praising them for their great faith and works.

However you do it, you may need to encourage your family in God today. We are surrounded by darkness and hemmed in by the terrors of the world. Though we have the rock of God, we need to remember to be the light, not just to the others so they may see the way, but to each other. In this way, the faithful are strengthened further and the weak can see what love is and know who they can emulate or from who they can seek advice. Don't forget to pray for and share your joy with each other.

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. -1 Thessalonians 5:11

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. -Hebrews 10:23-25

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: -1 Peter 4:8-10

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. -Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. -Philippians 4:8

Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. -Romans 15:2

Christians may come in many forms and denominations, but in so far as we agree that we are all Children of the One True King, we should act as brothers and sisters.

I'm going to be on a mission to praise those individuals of great faith in my life. Here's some great things our brothers and sisters have been doing lately around the world:

Kansas Church Pays off $2.2 Million in Medical Debt for Families in Need

Preschoolers Sing 'Jesus Loves Me' as Tornado Rips off roof... and Everyone Survives

American Idol Judges Brought to Tears After Learning Church Sent Once-Homeless Girl to Audition

Innocent Man on Death Row Shares How God Used His False Conviction to Share the Good News

International Fellowship of Christians & Jews (IFCJ) helps prosecuted refugees fleeing to Jordan

Christians are standing firm in their faith despite an uptick in attacks throughout the world:

Napal

Sri Lanka

Cameroon

Burkina Faso

or attacks in expression of faith like in China


God is on the move in the world today! Who will you encourage today? God bless.

Cain's Mark

The story of Cain and Abel brings up so many questions.

Was Cain's mark a visible thing or just a sign between him and God? The world had become populated enough that it wasn't possible for word of mouth to travel. Not everyone would know to not kill Cain or harm him without worse harm in return. Why did God do this for him? Why would he be worried that others would know about his bad reputation with God and yet not know that God didn't want him killed? Why didn't God want him killed?

Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. - Genesis 4:2b-8

Most of us know the story of Cain and Abel. There was a rivalry between two brothers, a jealousy that ran amok, and a man who turned into the first murderer on Earth. The most interesting theory on their rivalry states that they weren't just at odds in this one sacrifice but rather "which one would have the Temple of Jerusalem built in his domain." (biblicalarchaeology) Throughout the Bible, there could only be one temple. It was the place where sacrifices were made, and one could not build a temple or altar without the express permission of God. It's a possible explanation.

Once God confronted Cain about his murder, He set a punishment upon him as a wanderer who would never again be able to farm the land.

Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear. Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” But the Lord said to him, “Not so; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. So Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden. - Genesis 4:13-16

In various parts of the Bible (Ezekiel 9:4; Revelations 7:3, 13:6) God marks his people on their forehands and hands to show ownership and protection. The Beast or Antichrist in Revelations does the same to his followers. We know only one of those will be able to follow through in His protections.

It's hard to say with as little information is given, so we can't tell if Cain repents of his actions or simply is afraid now that there are consequences. So, either God is expressing his forgiveness or He felt wandering the Earth (a symbol of being spiritually lost) without the gift he once had (agriculture) was more punishment than death.

So, what was the mark, exactly? No one knows, so it's all wild speculation, and like everything else, some people used these wild speculations as reason to use the Lord's name in vain. Yeah, they used the Bible to explain why they were breaking it. One racist idea was that the mark was black skin. People used that as a reason to treat others as lesser than. First, that's not being love to others. Second, being hatred and blaming it on God is literally using the Lord's name in vain.

This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that this law of the LORD is to be on your lips. For the LORD brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand. - Exodus 13:9

You shall bind them (commandments) as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. - Deuteronomy 6:8

Just as observances were to be like signs/marks and the commandments were to be attached to your hands and forehead (not necessarily literally) as reminders of God's ways and relationship with His people, God's mark on us would serve as a reminder that we are His. Cain's mark served as a reminder to everyone Cain met that God would punish those who harmed him. He is God's and all punishment remains with God.

It does seem, though, that it was a physical or obvious mark for everyone to know not to harm Cain. However, it could've been a figurative mark, or sign, between God and Cain like a promise of protection. In this situation, if anyone didn't believe Cain that God didn't want him killed, he or she would be met with consequence.

However, when we read that Cain "went out from the Lord's presence" to live even further from Eden, we get this sense that Cain was separated from God's presence. He went to the Land of Nod, which uses the root of the Hebrew word "to wander." His world is upset, and he no longer is connected to God's creation as a farmer. He establishes a city, but it's hard to say whether he settled there or merely established it before his family settled there eventually. Whether he was ever able to live in that city, he remains spiritually lost and disconnected from God and the grounded-ness of his former profession.

This is a story that serves as a reminder that, without God, we're all awash in a sea, lost, and disconnected from our roots, like Cain. Also like Cain, God gives every possible chance for salvation.

One hopes Cain eventually repented and accepted God's grace.

God bless!


Sources other than Bible:
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/people-in-the-bible/cain-and-abel-in-the-bible/
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/bible-interpretation/what-happened-to-cain-in-the-bible/
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/mark-cain/
https://nakedbiblepodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/NB-171-Transcript.pdf
https://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/don_stewart/don_stewart_715.cfm
http://www.biblestudy.org/basicart/what-is-the-mark-of-cain.html
http://apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=6&article=5098
https://www.baslibrary.org/biblical-archaeology-review/6/6/4

Trees of Life & Knowledge

And out of the ground the LORD God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. - Genesis 2:9

Tree of Life imagery is prevalent throughout the world.

The Tree of Life shows up in ancient Mesopotamian tales about a man named Gilgamesh. He realized he was growing old and one day would die, so he searched for the only person who survived the world-wide flood, Utnapishtim, as he was the only immortal man he knows. Utnapishtim told him there's a tree under the seas that, while it won't grant eternal life, it has powers of rejuvenation. He explained that his own immortality was a privilege given by god alone. Gilgamesh was unsuccessful in obtaining this tree.

Ancient Egypt also had a tale about the Tree of Life, which stood for the "hierarchical chain of events that brought everything into existence (sivana)." The first couple, earth and sky, came from an acacia tree, which holds both life and death as two sides of a coin.

By their plentiful artwork, the ancient Assyrians held the Tree of Life to be very important. Although depictions usually show beings taking good care of it and has symbols which many theorize to mean creation, no one knows for certain what place exactly it held in their society or beliefs.

In Hinduism, a Tree of Life was a banyan tree. When the whole world was covered by a flood, this tree was the only one unaffected. It symbolized a part of ourselves that stays pure as long as we're rooted in spirituality.

In Mayan, Viking, and Celtic mythology, there is a massive, mystic tree which connects the whole of the universe (even invisible worlds) and the heavens, and it plays a large part in creation. This tree can be both Tree of Life and Tree of Knowledge simultaneously in its portrayal as a source of wisdom.

In Genesis, we are presented with humanity's first moral dilemma: the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge. Trees generally symbolize a connection between the earth and the heavens, namely God. The Tree of Life, in the Bible, is a symbol of God's salvation, and Jesus' death on the cross. He died so that we may have life.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. - John 10:10

So, what is the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil?

Let's look at a few verses:

The LORD God commanded the man, saying, ‘You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.' - Genesis 2:16-17

Then the Lord God said, ‘. . . Now, lest [the man] reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—” therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life. - Genesis 3:22b-24

So, someone who eats of the tree of knowledge will die, and once someone is dead, they no longer have free access to salvation. They can't save themselves.

Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. -Genesis 3:22

This knowledge is forbidden to humans but something that God and angels already have.

And your servant thought, ‘The word of my lord the king will set me at rest,’ for my lord the king is like the angel of God to discern good and evil. The Lord your God be with you! 2 Samuel 14:17

However, people aren't born with this knowledge nor the ability to utilize it for good.

And as for your little ones, who you said would become a prey, and your children, who today have no knowledge of good or evil, they shall go in there. And to them I will give it, and they shall possess it. -Deuteronomy 1:39

He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. -Isaiah 7:15

God didn't originally wants kings to rule His people, but only someone who has this knowledge would rule effectively. So, King Solomon asked for this, and God gave it to him along with wisdom (the ability to utilize that knowledge).

Give your servant (Solomon) therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people? - 1 Kings 3:9

It appears this wasn't a Good Tree/Bad Tree dynamic. The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was neither evil nor poisoned. The more I study about it, the more it appears that it was a forbidden tree because the ability to determine good and evil was more knowledge than we could morally handle. Although they were both ways to connect us with God, only one was the right way. It reminds me of the Tower of Babel as they used their knowledge and skills to try to reach into the heavens (and save themselves from the judgement of God through another flood), and God scattered them to stall progress for a time (Genesis 11:1-9).

But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. -Genesis 3:4-7

Here, they realize they're naked, as if that were a thing they could only know once they obtained knowledge of good and evil. Nakedness is not evil. God said everything was good as of yet in the garden. No, the fact they disobeyed God was evil. The fact that we thought we could know better than God what was good or delightful for us was evil. The fact that we know good and evil, but don't know what how to handle that knowledge, spreads evil like a cancer. For comparison, think about the technology we've developed and knowledge we've gained through the years that ended up in atomic bombs and warfare. Adam and Eve desired to hide their shame, but their method of covering up wasn't adequate.

The fruit of the Tree of Knowledge was a delight to the eyes because they were prideful of how good they would appear to have such knowledge. The tree was not wisdom itself, but the knowledge of knowing the difference between good and evil is needed in order to be wise (utilize the knowledge).

Later, when Jesus returns to walk among humans in the New Testament, came to spread the wisdom needed to utilize this influx of knowledge released by Adam and Eve.

The book of Revelation says that all is not hopeless. The Tree of Life is a river of rest and cleansing from our shame of mishandling the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. We will wash our clothes clean in it's waters, quench our thirst (unlike the Tree of Knowledge which brings a consuming hunger), heal from its leaves, and eat the fruit of everlasting life. We are invited back to the Eden of fruits and trees described in Genesis.

To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. - Revelation 2:7b

On either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. -Revelation 22:2

Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. -Revelation 22:14

If anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. -Revelation 22:19

Out of the ground the LORD God gave growth to every tree that is pleasing to the eye and good for food. And in the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. - Genesis 2:9

Eden, itself, is a symbol of our first sacred place of worship, like a temple or church, where God and humanity walk together. In the very center of this garden, was placed both the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. In Jewish temples, there was a place called the Holy of Holies, an area where only the priests could go. In this place, God resided, and it was separated from the rest of the temple by a thick veil. In a Jewish text, Midrash Tanhuma, explaining the temple and the holy of holies, it states:

Just as a navel is set in the middle of a person, so the land of Israel is the navel of the world [cf. Ezekiel 38:12; see also Ezekiel 5:5]. . . . The land of Israel sits at the center of the world; Jerusalem is in the center of the land of Israel; the sanctuary is in the center of Jerusalem; the Temple building is in the center of the sanctuary; the ark is in the center of the Temple building; and the foundation stone, out of which the world was founded, is before the Temple building.

The center of this first temple, Eden, was the holy of holiest places, where resided the trees. Some theories, both in Jewish and Christian traditions, hold the Tree to Knowledge was a veil of sorts before the Tree of Life. We all know this veil was torn when Jesus sacrificed His life on the cross.

In a way, Adam and Eve were seduced into thinking they could obtain knowledge of good and evil and gain wisdom, like God and the angels had, in order to save themselves and connect them with heaven. However, as we know, we're utterly incapable of saving ourselves (the angels failed in this too!) or of being truly like God.

We now all have access to the Tree of Life through Jesus.

God bless!


Sources other than Bible:

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justin-taylor/the-tree-of-life-and-the-tree-of-the-knowledge-of-god-and-evil/
https://www.biblicaltraining.org/blog/curious-christian/4-3-2012/what-tree-knowledge-good-and-evil

https://metode.org/issues/article-revistes/the-symbolism-of-trees.html
https://blog.sivanaspirit.com/sp-gn-what-is-the-tree-of-life/
https://rsc.byu.edu/archived/ascending-mountain-lord-temple-praise-and-worship-old-testament/tree-knowledge-veil