Faithful Writers

You can’t pit one language against another and expect it to work. I keep seeing this argument pop up, and I find it both obnoxious and very ignorant. The argument is that Mary wasn’t actually a virgin, and this “discredits” the Bible. This all comes down to two verses getting pitted against one another. Isaiah vs Matthew — Let’s look at both verses in question. “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son,” Isaiah 7:14 (Hebrew) “But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.” Matthew 1:25 (Greek) Isaiah, apparently, your word choice didn’t make some people happy. “But Matthew quotes Isaiah.” I guess I should start with the obvious. Matthew did not quote Isaiah, we can see that just from scripture alone. The reason I need to point this out is that is the very first thing I see that is latched onto in this argument and used as its foundation. The problem with this “foundation” According to those who hold this belief (that Mary was not a virgin), this supposed quoting by Matthew of Isaiah discredits Matthew, and therefore “discredits” the Bible. All because Isaiah didn’t use what some consider to be the “correct” word ( virgin ) some 700 years before Jesus’s birth, and was written in Hebrew to boot. If you're wondering what word I’m talking about, Isaiah used the word “ almah” (hā·‘al·māh ), and we definitely will be circling back to that word at the end in detail. There’s more to that word than meets the eye, and I’ll show you what these debaters don’t want you to see. Things conveniently disappear. Within this argument, I always see key verses conveniently go poof and disappear when just these two verses are pitted against each other in the “virgin” argument. What verses would those be? “to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.” Luke 1:27 Translation Breakdown. “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” Luke 1:34 Translation Breakdown. Those are some pretty strong and confident words there. Unless you're going to tell me the young woman God chose to be Jesus’s mother was secretly a liar, and God didn’t see that? This argument may appear to be strong until you look at everything else, then it loses all creditably. When you want to hold onto a single word so hard and try to use it to “discredit” the Bible, you need to look at all of the Scriptures as well as have the decorum to learn what the word meant back then and to that culture. Chapters, verses, and page numbers are amazing, and we definitely need them at times. But the Bible originally did not have that for a reason. I know I’m going a wee bit off-script here, but hear me out. 1227 and 1382. Those are the dates when chapters and verses were introduced. Before that, the Bible was read and understood as a whole. It’s absolutely fine to pick a verse and use it. I just did. 👆 But you can’t use that one single verse and attempt to build an entire argument without knowing the rest of the Bible. That’s just plain cherry-picking to “prove” your belief. Every word, verse, story, etc., is connected in the Bible, and that’s why it’s so challenging; we have to look at all the other chapters, verses, and words to help us understand fully. I went way off script there, sorry about that, but it is true. We can’t take one verse or, in this case, one word and build an entire argument from it simply because we want to “discredit” the Bible. And for reference, no, I am not a Catholic on some crusade to save Mary’s reputation. I’m here to correct and provide details to consider before believing this argument. Below is more detail on the word “ almah.” Remember, the Hebrew language is nothing like ours, we simply cannot apply our root language to theirs and expect a healthy outcome. Virgin | Young Woman | Maiden So the reason there is a fit over this word is because in Hebrew, this is the word used in reference to a young woman of martial age, verses directly being a word that is defined as “virgin.” “The Greek equivalent often associated with “almah” is παρθένος (parthenos), which explicitly means “virgin.” This is notably used in the Septuagint translation of Isaiah 7:14 and in the New Testament, such as in Matthew 1:23.” The term “almah” refers to a young woman of marriageable age, often implying virginity, though not explicitly stating it. In the context of ancient Hebrew culture, an “almah” would typically be a young, unmarried woman who is presumed to be a virgin, though the term itself does not exclusively mean ‘virgin.’” This next section is why it’s very important to understand the culture when translating a difficult language. “Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Israelite society, the status of a young woman was closely tied to her family and community. The term “almah” reflects a stage in a woman’s life before marriage, where she is seen as pure and eligible for marriage. The cultural expectation was that an “almah” would be a virgin, as premarital chastity was highly valued.” Isaiah was a Hebrew, he used the word that was associated and known to mean virginity. Matthew is in Greek. A completely different language, and the word choice used was not wrong, nor does it disprove anything. A doctor does not look at a rash and diagnose anything until they ask questions. We should be doing this, too, especially when exploring topics that want to discredit the Bible. © Jane Isley First published in Never Stop Writing Thank you for taking the time to read, and please consider  supporting my work . Your gift helps keep this work going, blesses others, and means the world to me. You can visit me at Faithful Writers  on Medium, where other Christian writers have joined me in sharing the word of God. You can also find me on   Tumblr  and   Facebook.

A criticism often leveled at the US military is all of the civilian casualties who end up getting caught in the crossfire during a wartime operation. Left-wing critics and the foreign media just love to point out the military’s failings in this area and seem to take much delight in showing footage of the dead bodies of women and children who were accidentally killed. While I can understand how disturbing and upsetting this can be, at least the military wasn’t deliberately targeting innocent bystanders. Compare this with those extremists who committed 9/11 and other terrorists who deliberately target civilians. I’ll never forget the TV footage I saw of our enemies in the Middle East dancing and cheering in celebration of the fact that American’s twin towers had been toppled. Weren’t they aware of how much innocent life had perished? People of all ages, races, religions, and backgrounds were murdered by people who were given the freedom to enjoy life in the United States… But instead, used that freedom to obtain pilot licenses and plot one of the vilest crimes ever committed in the history of mankind. One principle we can glean from the story of Noah’s Ark is that God does not and will not destroy the wicked with the innocent. While God does not guarantee we will be saved from the wickedness of evil men who would inflict violence on us… We are assured that when God Himself shoots off His fiery bullets of destructive judgment toward the wicked, there will be no casualties. The Scriptures tell us that once Noah and his family were safely tucked away inside the ark, God waited for seven days and then an amazing thing occurred. God Himself physically closed the door to the ark effectively separating Noah and His family from the rest of mankind. Those that entered went in, male and female, from every kind of living being, as God had ordered him; and Adonai shut him inside . -Genesis 7:16 This is a pattern that will repeat itself in the near future when Yeshua returns to collect His own… Afterward, God will rain down unstoppable judgment on the world. Another important point you need to know. It is important to not confuse God’s judgment of the world with the tribulation. The tribulation is evil men hurting innocent believers. God’s judgement comes afterwards. These are two separate events. © Richoka

Today we begin our study of Genesis Chapter 8. For the complete Jewish Bible, click here . For the King James version, click here . “God remembered Noah, every living thing and all the livestock with him in the ark; so God caused a wind to pass over the earth, and the water began to go down.” -Genesis 8:1 The statement that “God remembered Noah” marks the turning point of the whole flood narrative. This phrase appears several times in the Scriptures and normally symbolizes the triumph of mercy over judgment. For example, -God remembered Abraham and then saved his Nephew Lot from death in Sodom. -God remembered both Sarah and Rachel and rescued them from their infertility. And the most important thing that God remembers is the eternal covenants He has made with Israel. Notice also that God did not just remember Noah but his remembrance also extended to the creatures in the ark. Never forget that although man has been created above the animals, God still loves all of His creation. It pained God greatly that He had to kill an animal to provide coverings for Adam and Eve and it pained Him that a huge portion of his creation had to die in the flood. It will grieve Him even more when many millions of His beloved creation will have to be killed daily to atone for man’s sins under the sacrificial system of the Mosaic Law. It is important to remember ( pun intended ) that the many concepts and principles that we think are unique to the New Testament have their origin in the “Old” Testament. Ideas such as “living water” , “the grace of God." and of course “the coming of the Messiah” are first introduced in the “Old” Testament. In the story of Noah and his ark, we are also introduced to a principle that I bet most Christians thought originated in the New Testament. I am talking about water baptism. Yup! That’s right. The flood represents the water baptism of salvation that Noah and his family went through. © Richoka

The Potential Danger of Spiritual Disciplines “God is not a scorekeeper. Spiritual practices are not extra credit. They are how we learn to be present with a God who already loves us.”Rachel Held Evans Practical life disciplines are good things. What they potentially do for the body, for the mind, for the house, for the checkbook. There’s something about setting a rhythm, a habit, a little rule of life that keeps the mess from stacking up too high in any one corner. Discipline can be a gift. But just like fire warms a home or burns it to the ground — so too, spiritual disciplines can go sideways real fast. Spiritual disciplines, when rooted in grace, can be life-giving. But when they get tangled up in performance, they can twist into something toxic. And I’ve been there — knee-deep in the weeds of performance-based Christianity, holding my Bible like a scorecard. I wondered why my prayer and Bible reading time started feeling dry. The Gift of the Practice Let’s be clear: discipline in itself isn’t the problem. Jesus often withdrew to lonely places to pray (Luke 5:16). He fasted. He quoted Scripture from memory. He got up early. So I’m not knocking the idea of showing up for your faith. But there’s a big difference between practicing your faith and performing it. Spiritual disciplines — whether it’s prayer, meditation, journaling, fasting, or a daily quiet time — were never meant to be audition tapes for God’s approval. They were supposed to be ways to stay rooted, to listen more deeply, to remember we are loved. But we humans — we like gold stars. We like checking boxes. And somewhere along the line, we trade being with God for trying to impress God. When Quiet Time Turns Into a Chore Chart For years, I woke up early and had a “quiet time.” That’s what we called it in my church circles. It sounded peaceful and holy. Except, it wasn’t always. Sometimes it was dry. Sometimes I fell asleep halfway through the prayer. Sometimes I read three chapters and didn’t feel one ounce closer to God. And instead of grace, I gave myself guilt. I’d feel bad if I skipped a day. Worse if I missed two. By day three, I was convinced God was giving me the silent treatment and I’d better double up on devotions just to get back in His good graces. Can you see how that’s not relationship? That’s performance. That’s trying to earn something I already had. Meditation: Still or Stuck? Let’s talk about meditation. I love the stillness of it. I love the breath. I love the presence. But I’ve also used it to try to feel spiritual — like if I could just empty my mind enough, sit still long enough, and focus hard enough, maybe God would show up. But God is not a vending machine, and silence is not the coin you drop in to get a revelation. Sometimes God speaks in silence. Sometimes God speaks while you’re loading the dishwasher or driving to work or folding laundry. The danger of spiritual discipline is not in the practice itself. It’s in turning the practice into a formula. From Being to Earning Christian author Sarah Bessey said it like this: “Spiritual practices are not a way to earn anything. They are ways to be with the One who already loves us.” There it is. Right there. You don’t fast to get God’s attention. You already have it. You don’t pray to make God love you more. God already does. You don’t meditate to find God. He’s not lost. He’s already present. The moment you start measuring your worth by your consistency, your spiritual life becomes a spreadsheet. And God does not keep spreadsheets on your soul. Like Sitting on the Porch with God I once heard someone say spiritual disciplines should feel like sitting on the porch with God, not like checking in with your parole officer. You don’t sit on the porch to prove anything. You sit because you like the company. You sit to breathe. To notice the wind. To laugh about the day. To just be. The danger comes when we treat the porch like a podium and think we have to deliver some kind of perfect speech every time we pray. Paul Had a Word or Two Paul said something to the Galatians that smacks me every time I forget grace: “After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3, NIV) He’s saying: You started off resting in God’s love, now you’re trying to earn it? You started in freedom, now you’re trying to hustle? Been there. Bought the matching devotional journal. When the Disciplines Become Distractions Even good things can become idols. Even prayer can become a performance if the motivation isn’t love. Even reading Scripture can become a competition if you’re more focused on the number of chapters than the voice of the Spirit. I’ve caught myself doing “the right things” but for all the wrong reasons. Not because I was hungry for God.But because I was scared He was mad. Not because I wanted closeness.But because I thought I had to fix myself. Spiritual disciplines become dangerous when they’re no longer about presence, but about penance. Spiritual Gym vs. Spiritual Hospital Think of it like this. If you’re going to the gym to build strength, that’s great. But if you’ve broken your leg and you’re trying to walk it off on the treadmill, you’re just making things worse. Sometimes we try to use spiritual disciplines like gym equipment when what we really need is a hospital bed. Sometimes we don’t need to pray more. We need to rest. Sometimes we don’t need to fast. We need to grieve. Sometimes we don’t need to be silent. We need to speak up. And sometimes, God’s grace shows up not in our spiritual strength — but in our spiritual collapse. It’s Not About the Performance Henri Nouwen once wrote: “You are the beloved. Not because you’re good. Not because you’re faithful. Not because you’re disciplined. But because you are.” We don’t work our way into God’s love.We wake up into it.We fall asleep in it.We breathe it in with no effort. Spiritual disciplines should help us remember that. But when they don’t — when they start piling on shame instead of peace, when they make us feel distant instead of drawn in, when they become about doing instead of being — then it’s okay to step back. Not to quit. But to reset. A Gentle Reset If you’re feeling dry or disconnected, maybe it’s not because you’re undisciplined. Maybe it’s because the rhythm has gotten out of sync with your heart. Try something different. Don’t scrap the whole thing. Just shift the focus. Maybe swap your morning quiet time for an afternoon walk. Maybe listen to music instead of journaling. Maybe put down the checklist and pick up a nap. Or a conversation with a friend. Or a psalm read slowly, like honey on the tongue. Because the disciplines are not the destination. God is. And He’s not hiding behind your schedule. He’s already with you. Even in the weeds. © Gary L Ellis

While the Bible is constantly ridiculed as a book filled with historical inaccuracies and fictional legends… The simple truth of the matter is that secular archaeologists and scholars who specialize in ancient Middle Eastern studies will often use the Bible… As a trustworthy source document to cross-reference and support the many artifacts they have dug up. Furthermore, even when the truthfulness of Biblical accounts comes into question… Based on the findings of archaeology and/or apparent conflicting evidence found in extra-biblical source documents… More often than not it is found that the problems lie with… Misinterpretation… Lack of evidence… Or poor scholarship… And NOT the Bible itself . I think the following joke well illustrates my point. ATHEIST: Oh Rabbi with your silly beliefs, don’t you know that there are dozens of cultures that have an ancient flood myth? RABBI: That makes me feel so much better. I’ve often wondered how nobody heard of the flood except us Jews. Now that I know others have also heard of it, I’m sure it happened. The rabbi in this joke has a point. The flood is told by the Greeks, the Hindus, the Chinese, the Mexicans, the Algonquins, the Hawaiians, etc. To me, this alone blows the “local flood theory” out of the water ( pun intended ). The Scriptures report that after bobbing around for a couple of days, the ark finally came to a rest on top of an area called the Mountains of Ararat. But where the heck is this location? The answer is parts of what is now Turkey, Iraq, Armenia, and Iran. According to a Turkish travel agency, “Mount Ararat may be the largest single-mass or volume mountain in the world as it is huge (one really has to see it in person to appreciate its immensity) and rises to 17,000 feet from the plains surrounding it at 2,000–3,000 feet while most other large mountains are in a mountain range with less differential and base circumference. ” © Richoka

As we walk through the Torah, I will be reviewing certain principles over and over again because they are essential to a proper understanding of the Bible. One of these principles is the one I have titled the “As-in-Heaven-So-on-Earth” principle. Again, this principle simply means that certain objects and events depicted in Scripture are the physical manifestations of spiritual truths in the heavens. And Yeshua was the perfect example: “He who has seen me has seen the Father (in heaven).” In Genesis chapter 8, which we are studying now, we also encounter a few interesting examples of this “As-in-Heaven-So-on-Earth” principle in action. God’s Spirit manifesting as the wind: In verse one, it says that God sent a wind over the earth to push back the waters. Now the Hebrew word for wind here is “Ruach” and it means “spirit.” Maybe you are familiar with the term “Ruach Ha-Kodesh." which means the Holy Spirit. So here is another demonstration of the “As-in-heaven-so-on-earth” principle. God’s spirit is manifesting Himself physically as wind. The Raven and the Dove: After 40 days pass, Noah opens the door of the ark and sends out a raven. The raven is a scavenger that feeds off the flesh of the dead. However, the raven does not return. So Noah lets seven days pass and then sends out a dove that soon returns. Noah lets another seven days pass and sends out the dove a second time. It returns again but this time with an olive tree leaf in its beak. Noah sends out the dove a third time and this time the dove does not return. The time to leave the ark and begin a new life on earth had arrived. There is some interesting symbolism expressed through the raven and the dove. The raven is an unclean bird and is considered to be a symbol of evil. In contrast, the dove is a clean bird and in Scripture is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Notice the characteristics portrayed by the raven. The Scripture says that the raven went forth “to and fro” and never returned. Who else in Scripture is described as roaming the earth to and fro? None other than Satan himself. Second, the raven is a bird that feeds on the flesh of the dead. Similarly, the unbeliever who knows not God nor the things of the Lord goes through life aimlessly, deriving futile pleasures from things that have no life in them. Now, whereas the raven was only sent out once, the dove was sent out three times. Although I don’t quite agree with their interpretation, Christians point out that the dove being sent out three times is a reflection of the triune nature of God. That point aside, there is no doubt however that the number 3 holds a special Godly significance in the Scriptures. For example, Noah had three sons. Yeshua Himself was raised on the third day… And the ark of the covenant contained 3 sacred objects and there are many other examples. In comparing the raven with the dove, it should be noted that while the raven was able to derive satisfaction from the dead fleshly things of the world, the dove wasn’t able to and thus returned. When the dove came back a second time, it had an olive tree leaf in it’s beak. Christianity and Judaism both agree that the olive tree symbolizes peace. Let us consider some interesting facts about the olive tree. First, olives themselves have been known throughout the ages for their nutritional and healing value. In the Bible, olive oil has played a significant role in anointing kings and high priests and was used to light the menorah in the Holy Temple. The national emblem of the State of Israel is olive leaves cradled around a menorah. The symbol for the Israel Defense Forces is a sword wrapped by an olive branch. The meaning is… “We seek peace, but we are prepared to defend against our enemies." © Richoka

The context we keep ignoring — What the fearful disciples heard Him say Omni Modal AI If you grew up in church like I did, you probably heard John 14:6 quoted more times than you can count. You may even have it underlined in your Bible, circled, highlighted, maybe even on a coffee mug. It’s the most well-know and quoted verse from the Bible “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” If you were raised in Evangelical circles, (as I was) that verse likely became the backbone of the salvation message: “If you don’t believe in Jesus exactly like we do, you don’t get to go to Heaven.” Note: I’m not writing this article because I backslid (as they say) or left Christ behind. Not at all. He is my Savior on many levels. But, I discovered getting the most from Scripture is to learn its context, or else you may miss the actual point. John 14:6 is treated like a line in the sand. You’re in or you’re out. Jesus said so. End of discussion. But here’s the thing: that’s not what Jesus was saying. Not even close. And if we stopped yanking this verse out of the middle of a very intimate, emotional conversation — if we actually slowed down and listened to what was really happening — we might hear something much more human. Much more hopeful. And far more powerful than a doctrinal threat. The Upper Room, Not a Podium Let’s set the scene. John 14 doesn’t take place in a stadium or temple or courtroom. This is the night before Jesus is arrested. The room is dim, the air is heavy, and His friends are scared. Jesus has just told them He’s leaving — and they can’t come. They’re confused. Anxious. Trying to make sense of what’s coming next. Thomas even says what they’re all thinking: “Lord, we don’t know where you’re going. So how can we know the way?” That’s the question Jesus is answering when He says, “I am the way.” This wasn’t a theology class. This wasn’t Jesus laying out a step-by-step conversion plan. It was a moment of comfort, not correction. “I Am” — Not Just What, But Who In John’s Gospel, Jesus uses the phrase “I am” repeatedly. And it’s never casual. Every time He says it, He’s pulling from something ancient and sacred — echoing God’s name given to Moses: “I AM.” But when Jesus says, “I am the way,” He’s not handing out a password to Heaven. He’s saying: You don’t need to know the roadmap. Knowing Me is enough. The disciples were looking for directions. Jesus gave them Himself. Totally Ignoring the Context Now, I get why they grabbed hold of this verse. It sounds exclusive. It sounds like Jesus is drawing lines. And that’s what we did. We drew lines in the sand. We basically were saying (and say today), “If you interpret Jesus’ words like I do, you’re in (because we’re the real Christians). If you don’t, then you’re out (because you’re a God rejecting heathen). Here’s the problem: that interpretation totally ignores the context . This wasn’t Jesus preaching to the masses or debating a Pharisee. He wasn’t holding an altar call. It was a heart-to-heart. A pastoral moment. And we’ve twisted it into a doctrinal checklist. No One Comes to the Father Except Through Me…? Let’s talk about the second half of the verse. That’s the part that gets wielded like a sword. “No one comes to the Father except through me.” My church read that as a narrow gate. But what if Jesus wasn’t narrowing access? What if He was revealing access? Think about it — Jesus is telling His friends, You don’t need to go through a temple. You don’t need a priest. You don’t need a sacrifice. You already know the Father because you know Me. You see, the common teaching of the day was Torah obedience. It was know and the way and the truth. Jesus was saying, “Nope. I’m the way.” What the Disciples Heard Try to hear this like a disciple in that room. The one who just left everything to follow this strange Rabbi. The one who’s suddenly being told He’s going away. You’re scared. You’re confused. You’re not sure what comes next. And Jesus leans in and says: “I’m not giving you a five-step plan. I’m not telling you to memorize the Torah better. I’m telling you — stick with Me. You’ve already seen the Father. You’re already on the way.” That’s not a warning. That’s comfort. When Doctrine Becomes a Detour We’ve taken this gentle, intimate moment and turned it into a gatekeeping slogan. “Believe this or else.” But what if John 14:6 isn’t about belief versus unbelief? What if it’s about presence ? Jesus didn’t say, “Believe in the way.” He said, “I am the way.” He wasn’t inviting people to a belief system. He was inviting them to trust a person. Him. As Peter Enns puts it, “Faith isn’t about certainty. It’s about trust in the midst of uncertainty.” Beyond the Verse Here’s what we miss when we reduce this to doctrine: the very next verses in the chapter are just as rich. Jesus says, “If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father.” He says, “I will not leave you as orphans.” He promises the Spirit. He promises peace. He keeps pointing back to relationship. Not once does He say, “Make sure to sign the correct doctrinal statement.” He simply says, “Abide in Me.” So What Now? Maybe it’s time we stop using John 14:6 as a battering ram. Maybe it’s not a test of orthodoxy but an invitation into intimacy. When we yank it from its context and frame it like a courtroom declaration, we miss the whisper behind the words: “You’re scared? I’m the way forward.” “You’re confused? I am the truth you’re looking for.” “ You feel dead inside? I am life itself.” Not someday. Not in heaven. Right now. A Better Way to Read It Let’s stop reading this verse like lawyers. Let’s read it like friends sitting at that table with Jesus. Let’s hear it like scared people who aren’t looking for a loophole or a threat, but for hope. Because that’s what it was. And it still is. Takeaway We’ve been taught to read John 14:6 as a line in the sand. But Jesus meant it as a bridge. Not a formula. Not a threat. But an invitation. He’s not saying, “Get your theology right or you’re out.” Let’s stop misquoting Jesus to scare people into heaven. Let’s start listening to Him the way His friends did that night — scared, honest, and leaning in close. Because maybe the truth isn’t a proposition or transaction at all.Maybe it’s the Person who sits with us in the dark and says, “There’s no need to fear. I’ll be with you always. © Gary L Ellis

The events of the flood as related in the Bible read like a time log. God really wanted us to know in exacting detail the specific days and times certain events took place. We are told the waters rose for 150 days and then receded for 150 days. We are told on the 1st day of the 1st month of the 600th year, Noah opened the covering of the ark. Afterwards, we are told that on the 27th day of the 2nd month of the 600th year, God instructed Noah to leave the ark and begin repopulating the earth. Let’s take a look at the following verse: “On the seventeenth day of the seventh month the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat.” -Genesis 8:4 Now what’s interesting is that the 17th day of the 7th month is when Yeshua was resurrected from the dead! I don’t believe this is coincidental. Both the flood and Messiah’s resurrection teach us that only through death does new life come. This is another principle that is repeated again and again throughout the Scriptures. If we are to successfully move forward toward the new life that God has prepared for us, we have to die to our old life. Abraham died to his old life by leaving his home country and separating from his family. The Israelites had to die to their old life of captivity in Egypt to enter the promised land. There is no fence straddling here. It is NOT possible to keep one foot in the world and one foot in the Word. There were tremendous differences between the Old World that existed before the flood and the New World that Noah and his family entered after the flood. Adam was born into a perfect world. Noah was born into a fallen world. Adam was created in the “image of God." Noah was created in the “image of Adam." We are more closely related to Noah than Adam. What we are going to see as we move forward is that in the new world, man’s relationship to God, his environment, and his responsibilities changed. Certain “living creatures” will now be okay for food… And animals will now fear men. CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT And Yeshua said unto him, “No man, having put his hand to the plow and looking back , is fit for the Kingdom of God.” -Luke 9:62 © Richoka

Notice that once Noah leaves the ark, his first action is to build an altar and pay homage to the Lord through sacrifices. Again, it is obvious why God commanded Noah to bring seven pairs of clean animals. If there were only a single pair of each clean species, then each sacrifice would have been the extinction of each species of clean animal. God was pleased with Noah’s sacrifices. The Scriptures tell us the Lord “ smelled ” the fragrant odor. Keep in mind this is just an anthropomorphism . An anthropomorphism is the literary device of ascribing human attributes to God. It’s not like God had some huge nose with nostrils and was able to physically smell the scent of the smoke rising from Noah’s sacrifices. Remember God is spirit. So when you come across phrases like “ God remembered ," “ God stretched out his hands ” or “ Incline your ear O Lord ," these statements are metaphorical. God then proclaims the following to Noah: “ I will never again curse the ground because of humankind, since the imagination of a person’s heart is evil from his youth; nor will I ever again destroy all living things, as I have done. So long as the earth exists, sowing time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night will not cease. ”-Genesis 8:21 Notice the phrase “ The imagination of a person’s heart is evil from his youth ." “from his youth ” is “ MINE ‘ ARAW ” in Hebrew. This means “ from his awakening ." One of the ancient Jewish sages has explained that this means from the time a human has awareness. In rabbinic circles, it’s debated whether awareness takes place in the womb, immediately after birth, or shortly after. Regardless, the point here is that ALL humans are born with hearts that “form evil." As explained in an earlier teaching, per the Principle of Opposites, this phrase goes hand in hand with the idea that mankind was created with both an inherent evil inclination and a good inclination. Remember, God holds man responsible for the evil that he commits. He does not blame Satan although Satan is very real and is capable of planting evil thoughts and suggestions into the mind of man. Satan’s strategy is to take advantage of the evil inclination in all of us. So even after the flood, we can see that fundamentally man’s nature has not changed and that humans will still struggle to not sin and commit evil. ( In fact, Noah is going to find himself in a quite embarrassing situation in the next chapter ) Again, since it is contrary to traditional Christian teaching on the subject, I feel compelled to reiterate that this verse is NOT saying that the human heart is ONLY evil. Babies are NOT born 100% evil. But neither are they born 100% innocent. Don’t forget the principle of opposites I talked about in this post . God is simply pointing out to us that all people are born with an evil inclination. CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” -Romans 3:23 © Richoka

Garth Manthe I watch as passersby go from place to place, I watch as some check their watches. I watch as some look ahead in their little world, And I watch as some chat amongst their passing group. I look at each passerby, Each is so different, So busy getting to another place, Each forgets to enjoy the things around them. Then it hits me and I realize Each has a life separate from mine, A vivid life, A complex life, Just like mine, yet different. My head hurts, It’s too much, He could be a single father stuck in a job he hates. She could be regretting her mistakes and can’t handle the guilt. Why have I never cared? He could be dying, and she doesn’t know. Those friends could be talking for the last time before they move on with their lives. I feel deep sonder for those thinking like me. © Maia Vashti First published in Never Stop Writing on Medium.