I recently had the opportunity to eavesdrop on an online Bible study, which was starting off in Genesis 1. There's nothing wrong with Bible studies, but after listening to the readings of written commentaries accompanying the subject at hand (that said a lot but explained little), it occurred to me that instead of looking for the trees, perhaps the forest might be a better place to start when it comes to the Bible and the study of it. I am of the opinion that a quick explanation of what the entire Bible is all about should be given to the world before digging into details by studies or churches and the like. An understanding of their purpose and God's clear message first. A spoiler given right at the start. Overall message first, details later. Scripture is different than your usual book, where one hopes to find enlightenment of some sort at the end. It is instead a lengthy record and statement of a very simple principle. With the purpose clearly in mind, it cannot be misused.
Moving on, part of the discussion overheard was on whether man understood Creation around them, if they were in awe of it (paraphrased). This brought up another thought. First of all, people need to remember that these original humans were not at all like us. They had no concept of 'opposites,' not having yet eaten of the Tree of Knowledge. That means these original humans could not comprehend creation as we do now. We need to put ourselves in the context of the times when reading scripture. We think differently than those in the beginning and yes, are now capable of being in awe, just like scripture says the elohim were at the time of creation. Our minds have been altered, as we are the descendants of an open-eyed fallen A&E and not of their pre-fallen innocent selves. We customized our factory-installed settings, and it's been downhill ever since. These were entirely different thinking beings (spoiler alert) that had not yet separated themselves from God. They saw things through God's eyes, not their own. More on that in a moment.
Even though the discussion momentarily bogged down on the concept of day and night, in reality the whole day and night thing would have meant nothing to those original pre-fall humans. They did not yet have any more concept of 'opposites' than the family pet that takes things in stride. They were one with God and had not yet separated themselves. Only after the 'apple' did they have the capacity to understand the principle of opposites, be that day/night, good/evil, up/down, hot/cold, etc.
This is where the forest comes in. It was at that moment that A&E became self-aware and saw things differently, that they saw themselves as distinct from God rather than as extensions of the whole. Assuming control of themselves by using their own will rather than following God's Will, which had guided them up to that point. Remember I mentioned God's clear message? As just stated, He (and His Son) not only told us where A&E and mankind went wrong, but He also commanded us to reverse (repent of/change) what happened and reunite with Him in spirit rather than continue acting as free agents thinking we are outside of Him. That's it in a nutshell.
Thus biblical history began with God originally telling us, pre-fall and onward, to put His will ahead of our own, and that commandment proceeded on all throughout the Bible as we were reminded that we were one with God, not separate from Him. Of course, mankind continually refuses to do so while scripture and history record the results of our mistakes. He even sent His Son to give us the same message of putting the Will of the Father ahead of our own and reminding us that He and we were one with the Father and not separate as we like to believe. One, just as A&E were before they gained the Knowledge and went independent.
© ...timothyu
Moving on, part of the discussion overheard was on whether man understood Creation around them, if they were in awe of it (paraphrased). This brought up another thought. First of all, people need to remember that these original humans were not at all like us. They had no concept of 'opposites,' not having yet eaten of the Tree of Knowledge. That means these original humans could not comprehend creation as we do now. We need to put ourselves in the context of the times when reading scripture. We think differently than those in the beginning and yes, are now capable of being in awe, just like scripture says the elohim were at the time of creation. Our minds have been altered, as we are the descendants of an open-eyed fallen A&E and not of their pre-fallen innocent selves. We customized our factory-installed settings, and it's been downhill ever since. These were entirely different thinking beings (spoiler alert) that had not yet separated themselves from God. They saw things through God's eyes, not their own. More on that in a moment.
Even though the discussion momentarily bogged down on the concept of day and night, in reality the whole day and night thing would have meant nothing to those original pre-fall humans. They did not yet have any more concept of 'opposites' than the family pet that takes things in stride. They were one with God and had not yet separated themselves. Only after the 'apple' did they have the capacity to understand the principle of opposites, be that day/night, good/evil, up/down, hot/cold, etc.
This is where the forest comes in. It was at that moment that A&E became self-aware and saw things differently, that they saw themselves as distinct from God rather than as extensions of the whole. Assuming control of themselves by using their own will rather than following God's Will, which had guided them up to that point. Remember I mentioned God's clear message? As just stated, He (and His Son) not only told us where A&E and mankind went wrong, but He also commanded us to reverse (repent of/change) what happened and reunite with Him in spirit rather than continue acting as free agents thinking we are outside of Him. That's it in a nutshell.
Thus biblical history began with God originally telling us, pre-fall and onward, to put His will ahead of our own, and that commandment proceeded on all throughout the Bible as we were reminded that we were one with God, not separate from Him. Of course, mankind continually refuses to do so while scripture and history record the results of our mistakes. He even sent His Son to give us the same message of putting the Will of the Father ahead of our own and reminding us that He and we were one with the Father and not separate as we like to believe. One, just as A&E were before they gained the Knowledge and went independent.
© ...timothyu
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