Contributor: Isekhua Evborokhai

INTRODUCTION
In the last study of Genesis chapter 9, we saw how after the destruction of the world, the Lord went into a fresh covenant with Noah and his sons to replenish the earth once again. In verse 1, He specifically said: “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.” Today, we will be proceeding to Genesis 10 & 11. Chapter 10 is often referred to as the "Table of Nations." It is the foundational chapter in the Bible that traces the descendants of Noah’s three sons—Shem, Ham, and Japheth—after the Flood. It also provides an overview of the ancient world, mapping out the origins of various nations, tribes, and peoples. Similarly, from verses 10 -32 of chapter 11 we see the genealogy from Shem (son of Noah) to Abram (later Abraham). However, the major incident in this chapter was the confusion of the language of the people of the world at the tower of Babel

CHAPTER 10
1. Ethnographic Structure of Genesis 10
Ethnography refers to the scientific description of peoples and cultures with their customs, habits, and mutual differences. This is what this chapter does. It organizes nations of the world today into three broad family groups as we see in verse 1 “This is the account of Shem, Ham and Japheth, Noah’s sons, who themselves had sons after the flood.”
Everyone in the world today is descended from these three sons of Noah.
The next 30 verses delves deeper into the lineage of the descendants of these three sons of Noah.

• Verses 2–5: The Japhethites
The sons of Japheth (Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshek and Tiras). These people are referred to today as the Indo-European and Coastal Peoples. Located in Anatolia, the Aegean, the Black Sea, and possibly Europe. They were not a single unified civilization, but rather a linguistic and cultural group.
Gomer had sons: Ashkenaz, Riphath and Togarmah (Referred to as the Cimmerians (possibly ancestors of Celts or Scythians).
The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittites and the Rodanites. From these the maritime peoples spread out into their territories by their clans within their nations, each with its own language. (Verses 4-5)

When you read verses 4-5, you start to catch a glimpse that support the fact that the chapters of the book of Genesis are not 100% chronological. This is because when you read Genesis 11:1, you see that the Bible says: “Now the whole world had one language and a common speech.” So this will imply that The account in verses 4&5 are post tower of Babel. Also confirmed in verse 25. “Two sons were born to Eber: One was named Peleg, because in his time the earth was divided; his brother was named Joktan.”

• Verses 6–20: The Hamites
Lay emphasis on the Hamites, mostly linked with the African and Mesopotamian Peoples (the Iraqis – Arabs, Kurds, Yazidis, Assyrians, Mandaeans, Armenians, and Persians) living in the regions of Egypt, Canaan, Mesopotamia, and parts of Africa.
Cush: Nubia (modern Sudan) or possibly Mesopotamia. Mizraim: Egypt. Put: Libya or Somalia. Canaan: Phoenicians, Jebusites, Amorites (later enemies of Israel). Nimrod: Founder of early Mesopotamian empires (Babel, Assyria). Who Jewish and later Christian traditions associate the construction of the tower Babel to. Nimrod was a mighty hunter and the first powerful king on earth. (Verses 8-10). His kingdom included Babel, Erech, and Akkad, all in the land of Shinar. And Genesis 11:1 tells us that the people settled in Shinar.

• Verses 21–31: The Shemites (Semitic Peoples).
Associated regions are Mesopotamia, Arabia, and the Levant. Key Peoples are Elam (Early Persians). Asshur: Assyrians. Arpachshad: Ancestor of Abraham (and thus the Israelites). Lud: Possibly Lydians (Anatolia). Eber: Progenitor of the Hebrews. And Peleg: His name ("division") may refer to the splitting of languages at Babel. Verse 25 says:
“Two sons were born to Eber: One was named Peleg, because in his time the earth was divided; his brother was named Joktan.”
Although his birth was mentioned in Chapter 10, the events surrounding his birth, “because in his time the earth was divided” is yet another indication that Moses’ method narrating the accounts that God showed him was first, what happened, and then, how it happened.

LESSONS FROM CHAPTER 10
Genesis 10 is not just a genealogy—it’s an ancient ethnography showing God’s sovereignty over all nations. He is the originator of all peoples, languages, and nations. He orchestrated
human history, geography, and lineage. Nations didn’t just "happen" — they trace back to God’s providence. It combats ideas of superiority or division — all people are one human family, diverse but united by creation. Human migration and dispersion is part of God’s plan post-Flood Verse 32). It lays the groundwork for the world’s cultural and ethnic diversity. God is not against diversity — He designed it.
Finally, Genesis 10 might look like a list, but it’s really about God laying the foundation of history and showing us that He had His hand in the development of civilizations and reminding us that all humanity is rooted in His design.

CHAPTER 11
Verses 1–9: The Tower of Babel
1. Human Pride vs. Divine Authority (Verses 1-4)
The plan and purpose of God was for the people of the world to spread over the entire earth, a covenant He renewed with Noah in Gen.9:1. But we see in verse 2 that the people found a plain in Shinar and settled there. They sought to "make a name" for themselves by building a tower to the heavens. This symbolizes pride, self-sufficiency, and defiance to God. So they set off to build a tower that archaeologists and scientists have identified was a ziggurat. The site of the tower is located in modern day Iraq

2. The Power and Limits of Unity (Verses 5-7)
Humanity was united by one language and one purpose, a very powerful tool in anyone’s arsenal but their unity was misdirected. Unity without humility or righteousness can lead to destructive outcomes. So God came down and observed what the people were doing and He disrupted their plan not because unity is bad, but because it was being used to oppose His greater design. After the language of the people was confounded, what happened next was that they started to migrate away from Babel. And they carried the knowledge of the ziggurat across the world! Today there are ziggurats of different variations in Iran, Egypt, Iraq, Sudan, China, Italy, Mexico, Indonesia, Cambodia and Polynesia

3. The Origins of Diversity (Verses 8-9)
The confusion of languages marks a turning point in human history, this is when different languages and cultural diversity were introduced. I have often seen it as a punishment, but not quite. It was actually a necessary dispersion to fulfil God's command to "fill the earth" (Genesis 1:28, 9:1).
When the people could no longer understand themselves, they were grouped naturally by common “language families” possibly grouped by people from common descent such as Javan, Canaan & Joktan. From a modern linguistic standpoint, languages around the world fall into language families from where other languages sprung forth, such as, Indo-European (English, Spanish, Hindi, etc.), Sino-Tibetan (Chinese, Burmese), Afro-Asiatic (Arabic, Hebrew), Niger-Congo (Swahili, Yoruba), Turkic, Uralic, Dravidian, Austroasiatic, and many more.
Verses 4-5 of Chapter 10 says: “From these the maritime peoples spread out into their territories by their clans within their nations, each with its own language.”

These are the descendants of Javan, son of Japheth, who would have been people who took up the trade of building ships from the knowledge God had given to Noah and his sons. Javan is generally associated with the Greeks. His sons include Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim — all thought to be linked to Mediterranean coastal regions and islands. So the "maritime peoples" (literally “island or coastland dwellers” in Hebrew) are those early sea-faring cultures of the Mediterranean who migrated to coastal and island regions across the eastern and central Mediterranean — areas like Greece, Cyprus, and possibly as far as Spain.

• Verses 10 – 32: God’s Sovereign Direction of History
Chapter 11 transitions from a scattered, prideful humanity to the calling of Abram, who would become the father of faith and the channel of blessing to all nations. It tells us that God can choose individuals to bring order and purpose into a broken world.
"Babel" represents confusion and division, but it's also the backdrop for God's promise to bless the world through Abram in the very next chapter. The contrast sets the stage for a broader biblical theme: God bringing unity, peace, and blessing out of human brokenness.

LESSONS FROM CHAPTER 11
Unity is a very powerful tool. (Matt. 18:19-20, Deuteronomy 32:30: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). However, unity without humility or righteousness can lead to destructive outcomes. This tells us that not all unity is healthy. Proverbs 11:21a says: “Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished”. God's intervention to confound their language and scatter them over the face of the earth shows that true greatness comes not from human effort alone, but from alignment with His purpose.

Contributor: Isekhua Evborokhai

INTRODUCTION
In last week’s study we looked at how mankind became corrupted to the point where God repented that He created man and decided to wipe the slate and start afresh. He found Noah, a righteous man and instructed him to build an ark and then, sent a catastrophic flood that completely destroyed the earth. In today’s study, we will look out how God began restoring creation through Noah and his family. Genesis chapters 8 and 9 detail the receding waters, Noah’s worship, and God’s covenant with humanity. These chapters mark a fresh start for mankind, revealing God's mercy, justice, and expectations for His creation.

CHAPTER 8
1. The Floodwaters Recede (Verses 1-14)
God remembered Noah & every living thing (Verses 1-3) – The phrase "God remembered Noah" does not imply that God had forgotten him but signifies His faithfulness in acting upon His promise to preserve Noah and his family. God sent a wind to dry the waters, similar to how He parted the Red Sea for the Israelites in Exodus 14:21. This is one factor that often confuses scientists - when God uses His creation to perform the miraculous. (Discuss)
In Genesis 7:11 (AMP) the Bible says: “In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, on the seventeenth day of the second month, on that same day all the fountains of the great deep [subterranean waters] burst open, and the windows and floodgates of the heavens were opened". The Hebrew Bible refers to this account as a poetic description of a physical reality. God caused volcanic eruptions to break through the entire earth – across the land and sea that was instrumental to the flood. It is what also caused what the scientist refer to as the “continental drift” because all the land mass on earth were together prior to the flood according to Genesis 1:9-10 the Bible says: “9 Then God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so. 10 And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good.”

Although scientists erroneously believe that this drift of the continents started happening roughly 200 million years ago. The Biblical account in Genesis 7:11, gives the most accurate description of the cause.
• Noah’s Patience and Testing
When God sent a wind to dry up the waters, it was not automatic. It took days. It was after 150 days, that the ark finally settled on dry ground, on Mount Ararat (verse 4). So in Verses 6-12 – Noah sent out a raven and a dove to check for dry land. The dove later returned with an olive leaf, signalling renewal after several attempts. It was only by the second month of Noah’s 601st year, that the land became completely dry. (Verses 13-14)

Lesson #1: When God’s Word or promise comes to us, they do not necessarily manifest immediately. Many times, there is a waiting period we must go through. The wait is usually a time of renewal of strength for believers. (Isaiah 40:31)

2. Noah’s Actions Provokes God’s Blessing and Covenant (Verses 15-22)
We see in Verses 15-19 that Noah, his family, and all creatures left the ark to repopulate the earth on God’s command. “15 Then God said to Noah, 16 “Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and their wives.”
The first thing Noah did after they came out of the ark was to build an altar and offer God a sacrifice (Verse 20) – He offered burnt offerings to God in gratitude. And God in Verse 21 was moved by Noah’s worship, He reverted the curse He made in Genesis 3:17 (Cursed is the ground . . .) by saying “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done”. He vowed never to destroy the earth again, and established the covenant of seedtime and harvest. (Verse 22)

CHAPTER 9
3. God's Covenant with Noah (Verses 1-17)
• The Original Covenant Re-Established (Verses 1, 7)
In verses 1 and 7, we see God re-establishing the initial blessing and command given to Adam and Eve. Noah and his sons were instructed to be fruitful and multiply.

• Change to Human Diet (Verses 2-4)
Verses 2 - 3 are very interesting verses with respect to what was before. It implies that prior to these verses, the animals were not afraid of man and vice versa. No wonder they all were able to go into the ark without fear or agitation. Because in many cases, wild animals are not naturally aggressive toward humans unless they feel threatened, cornered, or provoked. Verse 3 also implies that prior, human beings were vegetarians! It was in verse 3 that God gave the go ahead to eat animals. “Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.”
Although God permitted the eating of meat, He forbade the consumption of blood.As we see in verse 4. “4 But never eat animals unless their life-blood has been drained off".

Lesson #2: All of the time when God instructs us not to indulge in certain things, it is always for our own good. The blood of any creature usually carries bacteria, viruses, and parasites that cause diseases and therefore not safe or healthy for humans. And because this was the first time man was going to be eating meat; He had to put safety measures in place to protect man. We see the same reflected in Lev 11 and Deut. 14 about not eating unclean foods.

Although the primary reason God forbade the Israelites from eating unclean foods was spiritual and symbolic, the unclean animals listed in the Bible are now known to carry higher health risks compared to clean animals. For instance,

Pigs (Pork) carry worms, that can cause trichinosis, a disease that causes muscle pain, fever, and inflammation. Pigs also do not sweat, meaning they do not detoxify as effectively as other animals holding onto toxins. Pork has also been linked to heart disease and high cholesterol levels.

Other listed animals are

Shellfish (Shrimp, Lobster, Crab) Shellfish can absorb mercury, lead, and other pollutants, leading to long-term health risks.

Scavenger Birds (Eagles, Vultures, Ravens) eat decayed flesh, and may carry harmful pathogens that can transfer to humans.

These laws would have protected the Israelites in ancient times when proper food handling was difficult.

• Respect and Sanctity of Human Life (Verses 5-6)
In verses 5-6, murder was condemned, and capital punishment was established.
“And murder is forbidden. Man-killing animals must die, and any man who murders shall be killed; for to kill a man is to kill one made like God.”

• The Rainbow as a Sign of the Covenant (Verses 12-17)
God then set the rainbow in the sky as a reminder of His promise never to destroy the earth by flood again. Naturally, Noah and his sons may have had PTSD. God knew that every time it threatens to rain, they would be afraid, and so He once again used natural occurrences to produce the rainbow. When water droplets in the sky act as prisms that bend and scatters light rays to form a rainbow. What I believe provides a re-assurance for mankind that another flood is not on the way and according to Him, when He sees it, He is reminded of His promise – not that He forgets.

4. Actions and Consequences (Verses 18-29)
• Noah’s Drunkenness (Verses 20-21)
To every action, there is a consequence. Although the Bible records this account in two verses, (20-21), the time between when Noah planted a vineyard (which could be shortly after the flood), to when he became drunk would have been between 3-5 years that it takes a vineyard to produce a harvest. But he became drunk. You will agree that his intention was not to expose his nakedness in his tent after drinking wine.
But “Noah took a drink; the drink took a drink and then the drink took him!”

• The Fate of His Sons (Verses 22 – 27)
His indiscretion only created room for another indiscretion. Ham, his 3rd son saw him naked and told his brothers (Verses 22-23), but Shem and Japheth covered Noah respectfully. What could Ham have done? He had already seen his dad naked. He could have simply taken a cloak and covered his dad and not broadcast the incident.

• The Curse of Canaan (Verses 24-25)
Although his brothers respected their father as opposed to Ham, one of them must have snitched on him as we see in verse 24. They didn’t need to have done that. 1 Peter 4:8 tells us that love covers a multitude of sins. So, there is a possibility that love was lacking in their relationship. And so in verse 25, Noah cursed Ham’s son Canaan while blessing Shem and Japheth. This to me was yet another indiscretion. Ham was the offending son, but the curse was on Canaan. Possibly out of anger or the hangover.

Lesson #3: We must be careful of the words we speak and the proclamations parents make over their children. Proverbs 18:21 says: “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Having said that, there is a school of thought that believe that the “curse” Noah proclaimed was more of a prophecy about future nations rather than an immediate punishment as we will see in future events.

• Noah’s Prophecy and Blessings (Verses 26-27)
In verses 26 & 27, we see Noah blessing Shem and Japhet while stating that Canaan would be their slave. This implies that Canaan’s descendants (the Canaanites) would serve the descendants of Shem (Israelites) and Japheth (Europeans and Asians).
Canaan's lineage is listed in Genesis 10:15-19, and his descendants settled in the land of Canaan (modern Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan). They became known for their idolatry, immorality, and opposition to Israel. God commanded Israel to drive out the Canaanites because of their idolatry and child sacrifices (Leviticus 18:24-25).
Noah’s Prophecy was fulfilled because most of Canaan’s descendants were conquered, displaced, or enslaved by Shem’s (Israel, Assyrians, Babylonians) and Japheth’s (Greeks, Romans) descendants.

• Debunking the Myth that Africans are Under Noah’s Curse
From the above, we see that it was Canaan, not Ham that was cursed (verse 25). And Canaan is not the father of Africans but mostly people in the Middle East. And thus, Africans are not under the curse of Noah! However, over time, some people most likely under the influence of the devil, interpreted this curse as applying to all of Ham’s descendants, particularly those in Africa. This misinterpretation is what contributed to harmful racial stereotypes and justifications for slave trade years ago. Let’s not even “waste” the scripture (Galatians 3:13)

• The True Picture
Ham had four sons, Cush, Mizraim, Put and Canaan (Genesis 10:6). Cush is often associated with Ethiopia; Mizraim is linked to Egypt (North Africa). Put is associated with Libya (North Africa), while Canaan, settled in the region of Canaan (which is now Israel, Palestine, and parts of Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan). Although Ham’s descendants are linked to parts of Africa, as explained above, he is not the literal "father" of all Africans.

CONCLUSION
Genesis chapters 8 and 9 tells us how God exhibited His mercy in preserving Noah’s family and establishing a new covenant with humanity after the destruction of the earth. As an assurance from Him, He orchestrated the rainbow; one of the wonders of God’s creation that serves as a lasting sign of His faithfulness, not what the world has turned it to, today. We have also learnt some other important truths. Such as God using nature and His creations to perform the miraculous. The lyrics of the song “So Will I” state: “And as You speak, a hundred billion creatures catch Your breath, evolving in pursuit of what You said”
We also learnt that (i) when God’s Word or promise comes to us, they do not necessarily manifest immediately. (ii) We must be careful of the words we speak and the proclamations parents make over their children. And (iii) when God warns us against certain indulgences, it is usually for our own good. There is really nothing new that scientists are discovering now that God had not warned us about in His Word. That He did not give the reasons for such commands is because He expected absolute trust in Him.

Contributor: Alex Kokobili

INTRODUCTION
This study is a continuation of the previous chapter which focused on the genealogy of humankind starting from Adam to Noah. It emphasized a drastic shift after the birth of Seth (Genesis 4:26) when man began to serve God. Also, we would realize that humankind lived for many years. For instance, in Genesis 5:5 Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died. Genesis 5:6 Seth was nine hundred and twelve years old: and he died. Genesis 5:11 Enos were nine hundred and five years: and he died. The emphasis today will be on what happened before the flood began, how the flood became a symbol of God’s judgment on humanity, and how God’s mercy prevailed through Noah and his generation to save humanity from extinction.

PART ONE (GENESIS 6):
CORRUPTION OF HUMANKIND AND PRELUDE TO THE FLOOD.
The corruption of humankind refers to corruption of the human nature resulting from the original sin of Adam and Eve.
A. Genesis 6: 1-4. Increase in human population and perversion of marriage:
We will observe at the beginning of this chapter, before the flood that the human population began to surge. Then the Bible brings in a narrative of the sons of God as giants (Nephilim and Anak), marrying the sons of men.

Reflection: How come humans allowed their women to marry strange beings or giants? Could this mean that the fear of God had become very unpopular on the earth at this time? This showed the level of sinfulness among men that led to the contamination of in the family pattern in the early history of humanity on earth.
Firstly, one school of thought might unpack the argument about the description of the sons of God in the Old Testament narrative that is connected to this issue of marriage differently. For instance, let us look at the genealogy of Adam the son of God. (Luke 3: 38 Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God).
Now we observe that from this point, Cain and Abel were sons of Adam, and Adam was referred to as a son of God. However, when Cain killed Abel, a curse was placed on him (Genesis 4:9-16), and we were not told about Abel’s family history. Abel was considered a righteous man, and his family tree ended with his death.
However, due to increased corruption on earth, the sons of Adam corrupted until the time of Seth when humanity began to serve God again (Genesis 4:26). So if we bring back Cain to the equation (Genesis 4:17-25) we might assume that though Cain could also be referred to as one of the sons of God because he was corrupted and his descendant possibly might have taken wives among the generation of Seth. So now there was a contamination in the human race apart from the initial sin of Adam and Eve.

In another instance, going by the law of first mention in the Bible and other occurrences, the sons of God can be linked to fallen angels (Job 1: 6 referred to the sons of God as spirit beings – fallen angels, and while they met, Satan was in their midst).
Going back to the earlier narrative of Genesis 6, these fallen angels married humans and produced giants or Nephilim.

(Genesis 6: 2-4 that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.3 And the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” 4 There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came into the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown).

The sons of God that married the daughter of men were referred to as Giants in the Old Testament. Giants were from the tribe of Nephilim or Anak. Num 13:13 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight. Also, we see in (Num 15: 13 In accordance with the LORD’s command to him, Joshua gave a portion of an inheritance to Caleb son of Jephunneh in Judah Kiriath Arba, that is, Hebron). (Arba was the forefather of Anak.)

Numbers 13: 32-33 (NIV) And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, "The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. 33 We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.
1 Samuel 17 referred to Goliath as a giant and was described in 2 Samuel 21: 20 as “where another giant from Gath is mentioned who had six fingers and toes, a distinctive and unusual mark”.

So therefore, we can conclude that the narrative of the sons of God in Genesis 6 is associated with fallen angels and their human ancestry which is different from the usage in the New Testament reference to the sons of God which we can relate to (John 1: 12) refers to righteous believers who now have an inheritance in God through Jesus Christ.

B. Genesis 6: 3 The Lord curtailed the life span of humankind to 120 years due to the level of wickedness. Before this, humankind lived for hundreds of years with Methuselah recorded as the oldest who lived up to 969 years.

C. Genesis 6: 5-8 Humanity did evil before God and they continued greatly in their evil deeds.
God regretted he had made man, and decided to destroy the entire creation (humans, plants, animals all existing infrastures that existed at that time). However, despite this great wickedness, Noah found favour (Grace in the sight of God) meaning that God decided to save Noah from the incoming destruction.

D. Genesis 6:9 Noah was described as a righteous man in his generation. Noah and his family walked with God.

E. Genesis 6: 13-22.
God tells Noah about the wickedness of humanity on the earth and His plans to destroy the earth due to the wickedness through water. This plan meant that God wanted to use Noah and his family to start a new generation of humanity. God also planned to preserve the animal and insect kingdom., and he instructed Noah to build an ark that would serve as a refugee to Noah and his household including a pair of a specie (male and female) of every animal to be preserved in the ark to avoid being killed during the flood.

PART TWO:
THE FOOD BEGINS: JUDGEMENT AND MERCY
A. Genesis 7: 1-16.
Noah preached repentance to humanity before the flood started. 2 Peter 2: 5 If he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others.
Noah built the ark based on the specifications given to him by God almighty.
It rained 40 days and nights until all things on the earth were destroyed except Noah and wife, his family (his 3 sons and their wives, and the animals he took two by two that sought refuge in the ark.

Reflection: What is the significance of the year the flood started: Noah was 600 years old when the flood started.
1. This showed despite all the warnings of destruction to come, the people cared less about God.
2. The people saw Noah building the ark for about 100 years and ignored him completely (Genesis 5:32 Noah was 500 years old when he begat his sons), Genesis 6:9-11 Noah was called a righteous man when he begat his sons). (Genesis 7: 11 Noah was now 600 years old when the flood began).
3. Noah took his wife, sons and their wives, and a pair of animals into the ark. The flood lasted 40 days (Genesis 7:13-17)
4. Metushelah might have possibly died in the flood. We can check the dates from Genesis 5.
Genesis 5: 25-32 We will discover that Methuselah was 187 years old when he begot Lamech and other sons and daughters. Genesis 5: 27 Methuselah died at 969 years old.
Genesis 5:28 Lamech lived 182 years and begat Noah.
Genesis 5:31 Lamech lived 777 years and died.
Genesis 5:32 Noah lived 500 and began Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
The corruption and gross wickedness on Earth became extreme during the period Noah had his sons (Genesis 6: 10-11) at this point Noah was about 500 years old.
The flood started when Noah was 600 years old (Genesis 7:6)
This means that it might be possible that Methuselah died at the beginning of the flood going by the calculation from Methuselah’s age when Lamech was born till when the flood started when Noah was 600 years old it sums up to 969 which corresponds to the years Methuselah lived.
Methuselah lived long but nothing about righteousness was accredited to his name, and it could even be that he did as a sinner in the flood.

B. Genesis 7: 17-24 It rained for 40 days and the earth was flooded for one hundred and fifty days.
Humanity was destroyed except all those that were in the Ark, Noah became the heir of a new human civilization because of God’s mercy.

CONCLUSION
God will never back down on his command of righteousness. It is left to us to align with his word and precepts to shape our lives. (Prov 14:34 Righteousness exalts a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people). The testimony of Noah would forever reveal that a life of righteousness and faith attracts favour and the blessing of generational preservation from God almighty. Hebrews 11: 7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Contributor: Peter Folikwe

INTRODUCTION
After the fall of man in Genesis chapter 3, and by reason of their disobedience, we all became spiritually separated from God from birth, save for our redemption through the blood. However, Adam and Eve were still expected to fulfil God’s promise for them to be fruitful and multiply. Today’s study covers chapters 4 and 5 of the book of Genesis. Chapter 4 highlights the repercussions of man’s spiritual disconnection from God. However, the redemption of man originally planned by God became evident in the Chapter 5.

• CHAPTER 4
Chapter 4 begins with ‘Adam knew his wife’. It’s not as if Adam was getting to know Eve his wife by way of introduction to each other.It’s mostly used in the Bible to discretely describe intimacy between man and wife. Eve conceived and bore Cain; the reason we know that their meeting is beyond getting to know each other. The name Cain basically meant, I’ve got him or Here he is. It is likely Eve thought that Cain was the seed that God promised in Gen 3:15.
This chapter also introduces Abel the younger brother of Cain. It further defined the occupation of both of them. Cain a crop farmer and Abel took to livestock farming.
In the process of time they both offered sacrifices to God. Now see where their offerings differentiated them. Cain brought an offering of his fruits, while Abel brought firstborn of his flock. The latter carefully selected a special offering.

The Bible records that God had respect for Abel and his offering. Note here God’s respect was first towards Abel and then his offering. What earned him both respects were what he offered and how he offered it. God places more focus on our motive than offering itself. Some Bible scholars postulate that God accepted Abel’s offering because he offered the first fruit, while Cain did not. The good news is that the Bible in Hebrews 11:4 provides an insight, stating that “By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.”

Abel's offering was accepted by God because it was given in faith and with a sincere heart. In contrast, Cain's offering was of the fruit of the ground, and it seems his heart and attitude were not right before God. This teaches us about the importance of faith, sincerity, and the condition of our hearts in our acts of worship and offerings to God. Brethren, you can’t be giving to God while applying your human wisdom. Your giving cannot be seen by God as sacrificial, if it is not back by faith. Now Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell at the development.

God tells Cain, "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door”. This suggests that the condition of the heart and faith behind the offering are what God values. There is no way we could hide our feelings from God even when we pretend before men. Cain hid his
countenance from Abel, but the Bible in Hebrew 4 says the word of God is a discerner of thoughts and the intent of the heart.

In God’s conversation with Cain, He warned that if his anger is unchecked it could degenerate to sin.
Here we see Cain rejecting God’s counsel, allowing his wrath to take him over. He then lured his innocent brother into the field and killed him. A premeditated murder as lawyers will call it. In V9 God asked the rhetorical question, ‘where is your brother’. Sure, God is not asking because he needs an answer, but to give Cain an opportunity to confess his sins and repent of it. Instead Cain responded with no sign of remorse and blatant disrespect/disregard for God Almighty with all impunity.
In V10 God echoes here that the blood of the innocently murdered has a voice that cries out. Meaning Numb 35 an innocent blood shed pollutes the ground/geographical area.:33 makes this clear.

God in V11-12 rained curses on Cain who was a farmer, a tiller of the ground. In the case of his parents, the punishment for their sins was that the ground will yield less fruit, but in Cain’s case, the ground was not yielding any fruits at all, and in addition, he would wonder from place to place, depending on others for his daily bread. Cainhe thought he could corner Furthermore,. 14-V13in punishment ed his protest punishment he might be killed. He was sorrowful but he vousiegrGod by framing that through his hadn’t Godly sorrow.

God responded to Cain’s blackmail with an act of mercy but putting a mark on Cain; declaring that whoever kills Cain, seven times the vengeance of Cain will be taken on such individual. Cain deserved to die, but God showed up with mercy. When you receive what you do not deserve from God, it is just an act of His mercy and loving kindness towards you.
While the blood of the innocent speaks vengeance, the blood of Jesus, speaks of mercy, advocating for us and interceding for us. V16 tells us that Cain went out from the presence of God to Nod, east of Eden. Usually, sin separates man from the presence of God.
From V17 - V22 we see the genealogy of Cain from the birth of his first son, Enoch (not the Enoch God took to heaven) up till the time of Lamech his great, great, great grandson whom the Bible recorded as the first ever polygamist with two wives. Note here that polygamy started with a family separated from God.
In V23 just like great, great grandfather, Lamech called his two wives to boast of killing a man. Just imagine a man taking pride in killing his fellow man. He further boasted in V24 that since God would avenge anyone who kills Cain will be avenge 7-fold, that in his own case he will be avenge 77-fold. He was such a proud brat, contending with God. He was indirectly saying that he could produce a greater revenge than God.

The conclusion of Chapter 4 had a unique closure turning our attention back to Adam and Eve who had yet another son - Seth, in place of Abel. Incidentally he was to usher in the promised seed spoken of in Gen 3:15. The Bible recorded in the concluding section that men began to call on the name of the Lord. This could be very well mean that unlike the descendants of Cain who were separated from God, Seth and his descendants began to consecrate themselves to God; they started praying to God, worshiping God.

• CHAPTER 5
Chapter 5 mainly talked about the genealogy or descendants of Adam after the birth of Seth leading to the birth of Noah. The chapter opened reiterating that God created man (male & female) in His image and likeness. Note, “in His image and likeness”. A significant attribute of God’s image and likeness is His immortality. Adam became the father of Seth when he was 130 years old. V3 of Chapter 5 records that Seth was born in Adam’s image and likeness. God created Adam, perfectly. After all His creations, He reviewed all He had created in Gen 1:31 and said, ‘they were all very good’. But in the case of Seth, Adam begat a son in his own sinful likeness, after his image.

Adam however lived for 930 years and he died, contrary to the original plan of God for mankind to have His image of immortality. When we consider biblical genealogy at that time, we are confronted by extremely long lifespans. The shortest lifespan at that time was about 365 years, and that was the special case of Enoch, who walked with God. Methuselah on his part lived for 969 years, recoded as the man who had lived the longest lifespan in history.

V4 recorded that Adam had other sons and daughters. The number of sons and daughters were not specified, because they were not relevant to the biblical records of Adam’s genealogy. In chapter 5, no mention was made of Cain and the generation after him in Adam’s genealogy. Although he was the 1st son, he lost his right of place/purpose due to sin and rebellion against God. In chapter 5 very descendant of Adam ended with the phrase “and he died” - emphasis that human existence came to an end; returning back to the dust they were formed, except for Enoch who was taken to heaven by God.

Between V1 and V32 of Genesis Chapter 5 we had a record of 10 generations from Adam to Noah; in the following chronological order of existence, Adam, Seth, Enosh, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, and Noah. Each fathered children, named them, lived for so long, had other sons and daughters and died, except for Enoch. Unlike his forefathers, who lived for so long after the begat sons and daughters, emphasis was on how long Enoch walked with God in Genesis 5:22. He interrupted the norm and pattern that we see throughout the whole genealogy of Adam in chapter 5.

In comparison, Cain’s family tree in Chapter 4 had Lamech who was very proud, arrogant, and spoke of evil and revenge. Conversely, Lamech in Seth’s family tree, spoke of rest (relief from our work/labour), hope, life, expectations symbolic of his son he named Noah in Genesis 5:. 29While Cain’s Lamech talks about taking life, Seth’s Lamech talks about God’s gift of life and hope.

CONCLUSION
In conclusion, God graciously and divinely intervenes to rescue and brings rest to mankind through a man He has set apart through the lineage of Seth. This points to Jesus Christ our Saviour, chosen to be righteous and positioned to deliver all of mankind from their adamic/sinful nature, through His death, resurrection and ascension to glory.

Contributor: Folashade Morakinyo

INTRODUCTION
In the first chapter of Genesis, we learned how God created the world and saw that everything He made was good. In the second chapter, we saw what life was like in the Garden of Eden and the close relationship between man and God. Today, we will look at Genesis 3 to understand the first sin and its consequences. May the Lord help us understand in Jesus’ name.

THE FALL
The Fall, in this chapter, brought by the disobedience of Adam and the woman to God’s instructions in Genesis 2:16-17 (NKJV), God commanded: “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 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.’”

The Serpent was used of the devil as his tool. The Bible’s description of the serpent is found in Job 26:13; Isaiah 59:5; Proverbs 30:19; Numbers 21:6; Exodus 7:11
“Cunning” meant the serpent was very clever in deceiving people (having or showing skill in achieving one's ends by deceit or evasion- can achieve something and exonerate itself)
The serpent then asked a question, probably because the serpent wasn’t sure of the exact instruction God gave them or wanted her to say some certain words. Using the CEV or Easy translation of the Scriptures, John in Matthew 3:7 called the Pharisees and Sadducees snakes; an attribute they exhibited was asking Jesus questions so they can trap Him; Jesus also called them snakes in Matthew 12:34.

The woman entertaining the serpent made her to start thinking differently about the instruction that was given to them by God. Listening to the serpent allowed her to be deceived. Instead of rejecting the temptation, she considered it. This is why we must not entertain thoughts of sin but focus on good and godly things (Philippians 4:8).
In Genesis 3:4-5, the serpent assured the woman of a different result apart from what God told them that eating the fruit would not lead to death but would instead make her wise like God. She believed this lie and ate the fruit, then gave it to Adam, who also ate (Genesis 3:6-7).

Disobedience to God’s instruction brought about the fall of mankind from grace, from abundance from being and living as a man and woman of the spirit to being conscious of the flesh. This broke man’s relationship with God, the Creator, the Father, the Provider and their covering and made man become unworthy of God presence, filthy, naked, and ashamed.
They lost their close relationship with God and became aware of their weakness and guilt (Genesis 3:8-9; Jeremiah 23:24).

GOD’S DISAPPOINTMENT AND MAN’S EXCUSES
When God came looking for them, He asked, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9). This question was not about their physical location but about their spiritual condition. Instead of admitting their mistake, Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent (Genesis 3:11-13). This shows how people often refuse to take responsibility for their actions. Making excuses for sin only takes us further from God’s grace,make us linger longer in the state of confusion and exposure (exposure outside the covering and saving grace of God) It is like shutting the door against the only One who can save us.

THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN
Sin always brings consequences. In Genesis 3:14-17, we see the results of Adam and Eve’s disobedience:
The Serpent’s Curse (Genesis 3:14-15):
• The serpent was cursed to crawl on its belly.
• Enmity (hatred) was placed between the serpent and the woman, pointing to the ongoing spiritual battle between good and evil.

The Woman’s Consequence (Genesis 3:16):
• Pain in childbirth increased.
• The relationship between man and woman changed, leading to struggles in submission.

The Man’s Consequence (Genesis 3:17-19):
• The ground was cursed, making work difficult.
• Man would now experience physical death—returning to the dust from which he was made.

Throughout the Bible, we see that disobedience always has consequences. For example, Saul lost his kingdom because he did not obey God (1 Samuel 15:2-3, 6, 10, 14-15, 22-23). 

Children are instructed to honour their parents- disobedience to this also has its consequences (Exodus 20:12; Ephesians 6:1-4; Colossians 3:20).
These and many more examples remind us that rejecting God's instructions is not without consequences.

GOD’S LOVE AND REDEMPTION
Even though Adam and Eve sinned, God still showed love and mercy. He made clothes for them to cover their shame (Genesis 3:21). This act symbolized how God still cared for them despite their sin. God also had to remove them from the Garden of Eden so they would not eat from the tree of life and live forever in sin (Genesis 3:22-24). This was not just punishment but also protection. In the Old Testament, people had to make sacrifices for their sins (Leviticus 4:23-24). But these sacrifices were only temporary. The final solution came through Jesus Christ. Hebrews 9:28 says: “So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many.” Jesus' death and resurrection restored what was lost in Eden. Through faith in Him, we can be forgiven and have eternal life.

CONCLUSION
The story of the Fall teaches us important lessons about sin, consequences, and God's love. Adam and Eve disobeyed and suffered for it, but God did not abandon them. Instead, He made a way for humanity to be restored. We must learn from their mistake and choose obedience to God. By following Jesus, we can live under His grace and protection.
May God help us to walk in obedience and righteousness in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Contributor: Ngozi Roberts

INTRODUCTION
In our study of Genesis Chapter 1 we saw the emphasizes on the power and authority of God as the Creator of the universe. It highlighted the intentional and orderly nature of creation, the inherent goodness of all that God has made, and the special role of humans as stewards of the earth. It describes the creation of the world by God over six days. It presents a systematic and ordered account of how God brings the universe into existence and sets the foundation for life.
Before beginning with Genesis chapter 2, we should go back to the end of Genesis chapter 1, which, when rightly divided clearly ends with the first 3 verses of chapter 2.
Genesis Chapter 2 elaborates on the creation story, focusing more specifically on the creation of humanity and the Garden of Eden. It highlights the intimate relationship between God and humans and sets the stage for the events in the following chapters.

Completion of Creation - Genesis 2:1-3
So as pointed out in the introduction, these first three verses should actually end chapter 1.
God ended his work on the sixth day and He rested on the seventh. God didn't rest because He was tired, but because his activity was finished at the time. Note that when the Bible records that Jesus Christ ascended into the heavens and sat down, the same word "rested" is used. His job was finished. In Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost, the spirit sat on each of the believers, the same word "rested" is used. The word "rested" is often used in the Bible to represent a work that is finished.
So, these verses conclude the creation narrative from Chapter 1. God finishes His work of creation and rests on the seventh day, blessing and sanctifying it.

Creation - Genesis 2:4-6
This passage shifts from a broad overview to a more detailed account of the creation of the heavens and the earth. It describes the state of the earth before the creation of man, with no shrubs or plants yet because there had been no rain and no one to work the ground. We see here that God wanted someone to till or serve the ground, but there was no one. So God sent up a mist from the whole earth to water the ground.

Creation of Man - Genesis 2:7
God forms man from the dust of the ground and breathes into his nostrils the breath of life, and man becomes a living being.
The Hebrew word for "formed" is yatsar, which means "fashioned out of something already in existence."
The term "man" is adam, meaning "red earth," indicating that man's body is composed of the same elements as the earth.

The Garden of Eden - Genesis 2:8-14
God plants a garden in Eden, placing man there. The garden contains all kinds of trees, including the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. A river flows from Eden, dividing into four headwaters: Pishon, Gihon, Tigris (Hiddekel), and Euphrates.

Here we have mention of the Garden of Eden or paradise. Paradise is a heaven on earth where God was with man and could talk to man. There was no sickness, sin, or death. Paradise is always a place on earth according to God's Word. So we find "paradise" in Genesis Chapter 2 and never again until Revelation 21, when there is a new heaven and a new earth. This verse tells us that this is where God originally put man whom He had formed - in paradise here on earth. This brings us to one important point which is the relationship between new heaven and a new earth in chapter 2 and new heaven and a new earth in Revelation 21.
21 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

So when we look at these two new heaven and new earth, we see some sort of relationship:
• Restoration of Paradise
• God's Presence .
• Fulfilment of God's Plan

Verse 9 talks about the trees that God made to grow in the Garden of Eden. Now here is an occurrence where the Word makes mention of the "tree of life" and the "tree of knowledge of good and evil". Two significant trees are mentioned, representing life and moral choice.
"And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil".
These trees introduce themes of obedience and free will.
Some scholars interpret it to be another Figure of Speech called HENDIADYS - "Two words used, but one thing meant." The phrase "of good and evil" literally means "of evil enjoyment."
They believe that this does help us in understanding more about this tree. Apparently, it was the source of some type of pleasure that God did not approve of. However it is the lesson that is important. What is this lesson? We note that God gave Adam and Eve all they could ever want and asked them not to do one thing! The enemy is a master of deception and the only thing that defeats him is the rightly divided Word of God.
When living in the renewed mind of a believer, the Word of God allows us to live as more than conquerors.
Romans 8: 37 “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”
You've got to know the genuine ‘Gods’ word’ to be able to recognize the counterfeit [part truths and half-truths.]. that is why 2Timothy2:15 tells us to:
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth

Man's Role and Command - Genesis 2:15-17
15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

God places man in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. God assigns Adam the task of tending the garden, highlighting the value of work and stewardship indicating purposeful labour. He commands man to freely eat from any tree in the garden except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, warning that eating from it will result in death.

Here we are introduced to the concept of free will and morality. "Death" referred to is a spiritual death, meaning a separation from God. So what died the day Adam and Eve ate of this tree? Did Adam and Eve die? No, they went on to live for a long time. This is where it is crucial to understand the difference between body, soul, and spirit as defined from God's Word.
Remember in verse 7, God formed the body of man and made his soul. Then back in Genesis 1: 26 we learned that God created man in his own image and we know that God is Spirit and that God created Spirit for man. That is what died when Adam and Eve disobeyed God. they lost their spiritual connection with God and were now just body and soul. So we can say that God took the Spirit back or that man spirt became unregenerate or degenerated which is a state of decline, deterioration, or corruption, often implying a return to a less ideal or morally degraded condition. So God drove them out of the garden of Eden as we will see when we study chapter three.
Remember, the Bible was written for the believer, not for the unbeliever. As a result of this sin by Adam and Eve, every person is still born into this world today as a BODY and SOUL person with an unregenerate spirit. They must confess Jesus Christ as Lord in their life and believe that God raised Jesus Christ from the dead to be born again of God's Spirit or regenerated Spirit and therefore become body, soul, and SPIRIT. This transformation is the work of the Holy Spirit, who brings new life to the individual's spirit, making them spiritually alive and connected to God.

The Creation of Woman - Genesis 2:18-25
God recognizes that it is not good for man to be alone and decides to make a suitable helper for him. After creating various animals and bringing them to the man to name, God causes the man to fall into a deep sleep, takes one of his ribs, and creates a woman from it. The man and woman are described as one flesh, highlighting the unity and partnership in marriage.
The term "helper" (ezer) implies a companion who complements and supports. And the unity of marriage is emphasized with the phrase "one flesh."
Verses 18, 19 and 20.
18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” 19 Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam] no suitable helper was found.

This is after Adam had given names to all of God's creatures. Notice that it is brought up that there was not yet found an help meet for Adam. He was lonely and needed someone to keep him company and to help or assist him.
We may wonder why so many marriages fail today when God is usually last and not first in the married couple's life. God spells out many details of how we should conduct ourselves in a Christian marriage relationship in His Word. And way back in Genesis, God, our Heavenly Father, says, in regard to man, "I will make an help meet for him." There are definitely two parties involved here, but in this case, God is saying that a woman should bring the best out of a man through assistance. That is so important but unfortunately, we see the opposite often times. And yes, men also do the same. Ecclesiastes 4:12 talks about a Godly marriage as a three-fold cord that is not easily broken. The three cords that are interwoven are God, man and woman. When God is first in both people's lives, that marriage relationship is like a rock. The winds may blow, but it stands -- it can't be moved.

Verse 21-22 -21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
Here seems to me to be a case where God was finally able to get something done for a man of God because the man was in a position where he had to "let go and let God". He was asleep! Have you ever noticed that most times it is when we stop worrying about a problem and relax in believing God, that is when solution come! Oftentimes, our doubts, worries, and fears hinder or limit God. The creation of woman from man's rib underscores the complementary nature of the sexes and the foundation of marriage.
Isn't it just wonderful how God works with us? He waited for Adam to be deeply asleep when He performed quite a major operation. He made a woman out of the long rib of man and He brought her unto the man. Could you picture the reaction of Adam? God wants to bless us His children and meet our needs. He knew Adam had a need and a want that were equal in intensity. That is one of the requirements we must meet to receive anything from God.

Verse 23-23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.”
And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman because she was taken out of Man. Here is another beautiful illustration of the Holy Spirit's marking as to what is important in His Word. God wants to grab our attention and make us stop, think, and take notice by emphasizing - This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh - Though the bone and flesh of Adam were changed and made into Eve, yet the name of the original source, "bone" and "flesh" is retained.
Psalm 139:13-14 Highlights the intimate involvement of God in the creation of each person.
For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.

Verse 24 , 24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
We see that it is also repeated almost word for word in Ephesians 5: 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’
and Matthew 19: 5. , ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh
Note that the verse is not saying that a man is to forsake and no longer love or care for his parents. There is a simple but important figure of speech used here called HYPERBOLE or Exaggeration -- "when more is said than is literally meant."
Note also, the phrase "one flesh" used at the end of the verse. A married couple with God first in their lives will eventually reach the point where they have unity of purpose in all that they do. They learn to work together and in cooperation with one another. They put aside all conflict and live according to God's Word manifesting positives (joy, peace, patience, trust etc.) in their marriage relationship. This takes time. Obviously, the phrase "one flesh" is a figure of speech.

So, the chapter concludes with the theme of unity in marriage, as man and woman become one flesh. This verse highlights the intimate and covenantal nature of marriage, reflecting God's design for human relationships. In Mattheew 19:4-6, Jesus reaffirms the sanctity of marriage as instituted in Genesis.
Verse 25 Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame indicating a lack of embarrassment or guilt. They had nothing to hide before God. Man knew his sonship rights with right standing fellowship with God. Just as when we are without condemnation before Christ as rightly said in Romans 8: 1 -- There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. We will see later, in chapter three, that man, after the fall, became sin-conscious. It became a sin broken fellowship.

CONCLUSION
Genesis Chapter 2 is rich with theological significance, detailing the creation of humanity and the establishment of the Garden of Eden. It emphasizes the intimate relationship between God and humans, the role and responsibilities of humanity, and the foundations of marriage. The chapter sets the stage for the events that follow, providing essential context for understanding the narrative of the fall in Genesis Chapter 3. God bless us all in Jesus name Amen.

Contributor: Alex Alajiki

INTRODUCTION:
The book of Genesis is the first book of the Bible, and sets the stage for the entire biblical narrative. It describes events of creation to the relocation of Jacob’s (Israel’s) family in Egypt. It is divided into two main parts, with chapters 1-11 telling the story of God and the whole world, and chapters 12-50 focusing in on the story of God, a man, and his family. Moses is believed to be the author of Genesis, which is supported by the New Testament; for example, Jesus in Matthew 19:1-8, quotes the Pentateuch (Genesis-Deuteronomy), which by the time of Christ was considered a unified work (of which Genesis was a part). We shall start with the study of chapter one.

1. The Emergence of Light (Verses 1-5)
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day. 

Genesis 1:1 opens with the declaration, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." This establishes God as the sovereign Creator of all that exists. The creation declares the glory and power of God and “proclaims His handiwork” (Psalm 19:1) and the creation cries out both night and day and “reveals [this] knowledge” (Psalm 19:2) to us. The act of creation emphasising God's omnipotence and self-sufficiency. We can see that His Spirt was actively involved in creation, bringing order out of chaos.
God creates through His Word ("And God said..."), highlighting the power and authority of His speech. This theme is echoed in John 1:1-3, where Christ is identified as the Word through whom all things were made. We know that God is both light and the light of the world (John 1:4). The light was made before either the sun or moon was created. God affirmed that His first creation was good, so, the earth was created perfectly from the beginning.

2. Formation of Sky and Earth (Verses 6-10)
6 Then God said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” 7 Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. 8 And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day. 9 Then God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so. 10 And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good 

On the second day, God forms an expanse named “sky”, separating waters above and beneath it. The third day sees the gathering of waters beneath the sky to reveal dry land, which God named “earth”. God also creates the “seas”. The sea and rivers were divided from those waters that are in the clouds, which are upheld by Gods power. We know that God commands the seas to go to such a certain place and they can go no further (Prov. 8:29). God commended His work that they were good

3. Birth of Vegetation (Verses 11-13)
11 Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 13 So the evening and the morning were the third day.

God then commands the earth to sprout vegetation, seed-bearing plants, and fruit trees. Notice that the provisions for both man and beast and fowl had to be created first, so as to sustain them. The text appears to show that God created the earth in a mature state because the herbs were already yielding seed and the trees were already bearing fruit. He observes that this is good.

4. Creation of Celestial Bodies (Verses 14-19)
14 Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; 15 and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. 16 Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. 17 God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18 and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 So the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

On the fourth day, God creates the sun, moon, and stars to distinguish day from night and to serve as signs for seasons, days, and years. The heavenly bodies serve as signs of divine order and the passage of time. The word “rule” means to have dominion and the word “give” can be translated “shine” because, as noted before, light was already in existence before the creation of the sun, moon and stars. In a sense, these lights do separate night and day in that one cannot see them except at their appointed time. If the sun is not visible, it is still night. Notice that these lights were placed by God in the firmament of the heaven.
For he looks to the ends of the earth, and sees under the whole heaven; (Job 28:24)

5. Inception of Marine and Avian Life (Verses 20-23)
20 Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.” 21 So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” 23 So the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

On this fifth day of creation, God focused His activity to the creation of those creatures that would fill the seas and the heaven above the Earth. It would have been easy for God to finish creating all living creatures, but He chose to do these animals in a specific manner, in a specific order, and at a specific time. This demonstrates God's creative power and His care for all forms of life.
God blesses the creatures to be fruitful and multiply, reinforcing the theme of God's desire for creation to flourish and expand.
It is he that sits upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretches out the heavens as a curtain, and spreads them out as a tent to dwell in (Isaiah 40:22)

6. Emergence of Terrestrial Life and Humanity (Verses 24-25)
24 Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind”; and it was so. 25 And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

On this final day of creation, God creates all the living creatures that will dwell on the Earth. Like the sea creatures and fowls in the above verses, the phrase “after his kind” is repeated and so everything that ever walked or crawled, swam or flew was created at this one creation time. Any type of insect or animal or sea creature or fowl that is alive today has descended from these original critters, and any change in their form or structure has been due to genetic information being lost or damaged over time. There cannot be any new species as the genetic material God created in the beginning is all that there is. It cannot be added to. Snakes are still snakes and butterflies are still butterflies even if a change in size or colour has occurred. Man cannot create life. He can only manipulate the genetic codes within the cell, and apparently, this has been occurring (the sheep, Dolly)

7.The Creation of Man (Verses 26-31)
26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29 And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. 30 Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food”; and it was so. 31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

God commanded the water and the earth to bring forth other creatures: but of man He says, “Let us make…” signifying that God creates as a community and the “us” is surely the Three Persons of the Godhead doing the creation in unison, harmony, and cooperatively. The image and likeness of God in man might be explained in Ephesians 4:24 where originally, before the fall, man was in “the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” When a person is born again, there is a “new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph 4:24).

How is it that God blessed them? - There was no woman yet so how can he be fruitful and multiply? We must remember that God looks at things that are not yet as though they already are (Isaiah 46:10).
How could God tell the creatures to “be fruitful and to multiply” unless He had created them with that propensity? That is, it is by the virtue of His spoken word that He gave the ability to His creatures to reproduce. God never commands what He first does not enable. Phil. 2:13.
“For thus says the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he has established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.” Isaiah 45:18

CONCLUSION:
Genesis 1:1-31 is a profound and multifaceted text that lays the foundation for biblical theology. It reveals God as the sovereign Creator, emphasizes the goodness of creation, and establishes humanity's unique role and responsibility. Its themes of order, purpose, and divine authority continue to inspire and challenge readers today. Whether approached as history, poetry, or theology, this passage remains central to understanding the biblical worldview. The New Testament identifies Jesus Christ as the agent of creation (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2). This connects Genesis 1 to the redemptive work of Christ.

Contributor: Isekhua Evborokhai

INTRODUCTION
We have come to the final part of this year’s Proverbs Challenge, and in today’s study we shall be looking at the synopsis of chapters 21-31. These chapters contain a wide array of wisdom on practical living, justice, relationships, and virtues, culminating in a focus on the virtuous life looking at main topics such as diligence, humility, and godly fear.

DAY 21 - CHAPTER 21
Scriptures (Verse 16): “The person who strays from common sense will end up in the company of the dead.” NLT
(Verse 21):“The lovers of God who chase after righteousness will find all their dreams come true: an abundant life drenched with favor and a fountain that overflows with satisfaction.” TPT

Revelation: You can never go wrong with following after righteousness, but you can never be right following after foolishness.

Application: If there was ever any motivation for following after righteousness these two verses spell them out. More than ever before we must follow after righteousness. It’s not that we will never do wrong but when we do, it will not be on purpose.

DAY 22 - CHAPTER 22
Scriptures (Verse 10): “Say goodbye to a troublemaker and you’ll say goodbye to quarrels, strife, tension, and arguments, for a troublemaker traffics in shame.” [TPT]

Revelation: Unhealthy relationships create undue stress and tension

Application: Be decisive about severing toxic and unhealthy relationships. Never give anyone the power to manipulate you.

DAY 23 - CHAPTER 23
Scriptures (Verses 17-18): “Don’t allow the actions of evil men to cause you to burn with anger. Instead, burn with unrelenting passion as you worship God in holy awe. Your future is bright and filled with a living hope that will never fade away.” TPT

Revelation: Anger displaces us from our God given purpose and future

Application: We have an assured future in God. We must continue to channel our passion towards the worship of God instead of burning in anger to the wickedness of the world

DAY 24 - CHAPTER 24
Scriptures (Verses 30-34) “I walked by the field of a lazy person, the vineyard of one with no common sense. I saw that it was overgrown with nettles. It was covered with weeds, and its walls were broken down. Then, as I looked and thought about it, I learned this lesson: A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.” [NLT]
(Verses 33-34 )TPT says: “Professional work habits prevent poverty from becoming your permanent business partner. And: If you put off until tomorrow the work you could do today, tomorrow never seems to come.”

Revelation: There’s always a lesson to learn from every situation even if it’s how not to do something but it takes effort

Application: We must never allow a learning opportunity slip by always being aware, open to learning and sensitive to the Holy Ghost

DAY 25 - CHAPTER 25
Scriptures (Verse 13): “Reliable friends who do what they say are like cool drinks in sweltering heat—refreshing!” MSG 

Revelation: The ear mark of reliable friendship is meaning and doing what one says

Application: Lord Jesus, please surround me with reliable friends and grant me the grace to be a reliable friend myself

DAY 26 - CHAPTER 26.
Scriptures (Verses 4-5) “Don’t respond to the stupidity of a fool; you’ll only look foolish yourself. Answer a fool in simple terms so he doesn’t get a swelled head.” MSG

Revelation: Never stoop low to the level of fools in order to make a point or retaliate.
A quote by George Bernard Shaw is fitting here:
“Never wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty and the pig likes it.”
To wrestle with a pig is to engage in a struggle with an opponent that benefits from the struggle even without winning it

Application: We must always be the bigger person and not respond to the words of a fool with more foolish words. Instead, we should answer with words of wisdom seasoned with salt and grace.

DAY 27 - CHAPTER 27
Scriptures (Verse 17): “As iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens [and influences] another [through discussion].” AMP
“It takes a grinding wheel to sharpen a blade, and so one person sharpens the character of another. “ TPT

Revelation: The more we have “spiritual interaction” with one another the more we are sharpened, strengthened and encouraged.

Application: For iron to sharpen iron in this context, there has to be “friction” and “pressure” that’s why two knives for instance can’t sharpen themselves but a sharpening
tool (file) can sharpen a knife. It is not a matter of two people massaging each other’s ego but instead introducing different points of view, challenging our resolve with objective interpretation of scriptures. We must be willing and open to interacting with those who are “stronger”, “more mature”, those who are not afraid to tell us the truth. It takes a “harder” material to sharpen a blade

DAY 28 - CHAPTER 28.
Scriptures (Verse 23): “If you correct someone with constructive criticism, in the end he will appreciate it more than flattery.” TPT

Revelation: A genuine and God-fearing person would appreciate honest criticism far more than flattery.”

Application: We must always be future-thinking and concerned about what truly matters and not become people who massage another’s ego or expects someone to massage ours. So we must tell, expect and accept the truth even if it hurts now for the sake of the future (Psalms 15:5 MSG, Ecclesiastes 7:8

DAY 29 - CHAPTER 29
Scriptures (Verse 17): “Discipline your children, and they will give you peace of mind and will make your heart glad.” NLT

Revelation: Discipline a child early enough in life to avoid heartache in the future. Indulgence is not a mark of love but a bait for destruction

Application: Severally in the book of Proverbs we are admonished to discipline our children. Many restrain from discipline and indulge them indiscriminately because they think they love their children too much but Proverbs 13:24 says:
“If you withhold correction and punishment from your children, you demonstrate a lack of true love. So prove your love and be prompt to punish them.” TPT
Proverbs 19:18 “Don’t be afraid to discipline your children while they’re still : says TPTyoung enough to learn. Don’t indulge your children or be swayed by their protests.”

CHAPTER 30 -DAY 30
Scriptures: (Verse 5): “Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.” NLT

Revelation: Every Word of God is tried, tested and proven true

Application: Psalm 12:6 tells us that the Words of the Lord are pure Words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. We must never doubt God’s Words; especially what it says about us. We must pray that the Lord grants us the grace and strength to continually trust in His unfailing Word

DAY 31 - CHAPTER 31
Scriptures (Verse 4): “It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine. Rulers should not crave alcohol.” NLT

Revelation: Respectable people should steer clear of all sorts of intoxicants. Read Proverbs 23: 31-35. If you have the ambition to become somebody in this life then you must refrain from certain actions.

Application: There are consequences for all actions we take. Although this verse refers to wines and strong drinks, the same applies to things that will impact your judgment, your resolve and your reputation. Because as long as you remain a nobody no one cares. But as soon as you get out there, ready to or already making an impact in the world then people will go searching for mud to sling at you. And if by your actions either as a youth or past adult life you have by the lack of self-control engaged in anything scandalous, it will come out in the open.

CONCLUSION
The book of Proverbs serves as a comprehensive guide for navigating the complexities of daily life, offering practical wisdom that is both timeless and profound. It paints a multifaceted picture of wisdom, described in terms such as instruction (Proverbs 1:2-3), insight (Proverbs 2:10-11), wise dealing (Proverbs 3:21-22), discretion (Proverbs 5:1-2), learning (Proverbs 9:9), prudence (Proverbs 8:12), guidance (Proverbs 11:14), understanding (Proverbs 4:7), teaching (Proverbs 6:20-23), and knowledge (Proverbs 18:15).
Through these aspects, Proverbs teaches us how to relate with God (Proverbs 3:5-6) and others, and how to care for ourselves physically, emotionally, and spiritually (Proverbs 4:20-22). The lessons extend to managing relationships with friends (Proverbs 17:17), neighbours (Proverbs 27:10), strangers (Proverbs 25:21), spouses (Proverbs 31:10-12), children (Proverbs 22:6), and even the poor (Proverbs 19:17).
A recurring theme throughout the book is the importance of recognizing the consequences of our actions and inactions. Righteousness brings life and blessing (Proverbs 10:16), while foolishness leads to ruin (Proverbs 14:1). Hard work is rewarded (Proverbs 13:4), but laziness results in poverty (Proverbs 6:9-11).
Proverbs reminds us that wisdom is not only about knowledge but about applying it in our everyday lives, ensuring that our paths are directed by understanding and guided by the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 9:10). And that should be our prayer and desire, today and everyday of our lives.

Contributor: Adewale Abiona

CHAPTER 11
Vs 1,3 - The Lord detests the use of dishonest scales, but He delights in accurate weights. Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people.
Here we see the benefits of righteousness and the pitfalls of wickedness in various aspects of life (vs 6-7). Vs 21 talk about beauty without discretion is like gold in the snout of a pig. Vs 25 explained that the generous will prosper and be refreshed, just as their good deed is refreshing to others.
The actions of the godly leave a positive impact on the people and in the community but the wicked is not so, people rejoice at their demise. (vs 10-11, 29-31)

CHAPTER 12
Whosoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid(vs1). The diligent will get the reward they deserve(vs24). Hash words break relationship, but a careful and a thoughtful word brings healing(vs18).
This chapter present the difference in character of the wise and the foolish. The wise are those that are disciplined and happy when corrected. It shows the contrast in the behaviour of the wicked and the righteous and what will be their end. One important thing and an encouragement for everyone who stand for the truth is that lies will soon be exposed(vs19). It also highlights the importance of a godly wife (vs5).

CHAPTER 13
In this chapter we more of the consequences of our choices. If we are going to get the best out of life and fit into God’s plan and purpose for our life, we are encouraged to follow path of the righteous.
Godliness guards the path of the blameless, but the evil are misled by sin (vs6). The rich can pay a ransom for their lives, but the poor won’t even get threatened. The life of the godly is full of light and joy, but the light of the wicked will be snuffed out (vs8-9). Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble (vs20).

CHAPTER 14
When we look at this chapter, it is very clear that the mouth of the fool is a rod that beats them(vs3). Laughter can conceal a heavy heart, but when the laughter ends, the grief remains(vs13). In other words, pain the ungodly might be hiding with a big smile, you may not understand. Vs19 goes further to say, “Evil people will bow before good people; the wicked will bow at the gates of the godly”, that is evil will never prevail.
In vs26-27 is a clear distinction of what those who fear the Lord get compared to the ungodly. “Those who fear the Lord are secure; he will be a refuge for their children. Fear of the Lord is a life-giving fountain; it offers escape from the snares of death”

CHAPTER 15
In this chapter, we can see the impacts of the godly (wise) and the ungodly (foolish), wherever they are, in the family, community fellowship or the nation at large. Godly people are a treasure, bringing peace and harmony while the ungodly brings trouble. There is treasure in the house of the godly, but the earnings of the wicked bring trouble (vs6). Vs3 The Lord is watching everywhere, keeping his eye on both the evil and the good, and in vs8 it says The Lord reject the sacrifice of the wicked and honour the prayer of the upright. Vs 17 sum it all up for us, it is better to dwell where love is than where riches abound with wickedness. “A bowl of vegetables with someone you love is better than steak with someone you hate”.

CHAPTER 16
This sum of this chapter is that God determines what will happen. Yes, we can make plan as man and set thing in motion, but the outcome will only be according to His plan for his own children. But for the ungodly, it will be according to his principles. (vs1, 33). Isaiah 3:10-11 As a godly person, when the motive is right and are in line with His plan (vs2), then you will ask a thing or plan something, and it will come to pass because your heart was guided by Him and that you have taken counsel from His word. Even when there are oppositions of the wicked, vs7 says when your lifestyle pleasant to Him, even your enemies will be at peace with you. When we consider Vs 18 & 25 pride goes before a fall…& there is a part that seems right to man, but it ends in failure, you will see that both is saying the Lord determines how everything will end. The pride will fall from their horse back and those who think they are wise in their own eyes will definitely fail.

CHAPTER 17
This chapter show how our personality in terms of the words of our mouth and the thought of our heart affects our life and relationships. It Start by showing us what privilege and favour wisdom can bring to us, access to what we have no right to. Vs 2 A wise servant will rule over the master’s disgraceful son and will share the inheritance of the master’s children and ends with vs 28 a fool is considered wise because they understand when to silent.
Just one example in vs 9 “Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends”. Both our mouth and heart are required in the fulfilment of the above verse. With your heart you will forgive and with your mouth you will proclaim it. By doing, what the verse is saying, you will keep your relationship intact and give yourself a peaceful atmosphere.

CHAPTER 18
Verse 1-6 list some of the things a foolish person delights in, but will also ruin themselves with their own mouth vs7.
Vs 21 The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences. Through this chapter we understand that wisdom is profitable to direct, especially when it comes to engaging other people. Vs 18 says “Flipping a coin can end arguments; it settles disputes between powerful opponents”. Leaving an argument can preserve life just as engaging in some can destroy. Again, we see how the life of the wise can be preserved and how a fool can endangered their own life. It also mentions in vs 16 that a man’s gift(wisdom and godly character) will make room for him and position them for favour, including good wife/husband
A fool delights in his own opinions. The name of LORD is a strong tower. A gift opens the way. The tongue can bring life or death.

CHAPTER 19 - 20
There is a call for us to make a wise choice; honesty over dishonesty (19 vs 5, 9, 28-29). To be generous instead of being stingy (19 vs 17),
To be diligent rather than being lazy (19 vs 15,24; 20 vs13) because laziness tend to poverty and the poor are alone(19 vs 4,7)
To discipline children when they are much younger than indulging them (19 vs18)
These is because people ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the Lord (19 vs 3)
To be sober and of an humble spirit than to be fill with wine and alcohol and be led astray. (20 vs1)
It is emphasised once again that the Lord sees the heart of everyone, and He will expose the hidden thing, therefore we need to purify our heart.
Wisdom suggests that we let go and let God since He will determine the outcome (20 vs 24) The glory of the young is their strength; the gray hair of experience is the splendour of the old. (20 vs29). It is advisable that the young once allow themselves to be guided (19 vs 2)

In conclusion, there is wisdom for everyday living, covering every aspect of our life. The choice is ours, to be wise and be saved or to be fools and reap the consequence that comes with it.
Whatever your choice is, it will show in your character, conduct. (20 vs 11) “There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death” (14:12).

Contributor: Tobi Morakinyo

Introduction
Proverbs are truths expressed in a somewhat obscured or coded way—short sayings filled with wisdom. The Book of Proverbs is one of the “Wisdom” Books in the Bible, alongside Psalms, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon. King Solomon authored Proverbs during the early years of his reign after receiving the gift of wisdom from God and before turning away from Him. The book is like an earthly father’s letter to his sons. Given the spirit of wisdom (God) in Solomon, he was writing the mind of God to His children, as an earthly father speaks to his son. The primary purpose of the book is to teach multifaceted wisdom for living, reaching not only the young and inexperienced but also the learned. May the Lord open our understanding as we study this book afresh this month in Jesus' name.

Chapter 1 –The Benefit of Proverbs, the Enticement of Sinners, &the Warning of Wisdom
The Benefit of Proverbs: Proverbs 1 has three broad themes, starting with the usefulness of Proverbs. For instance, verse 4 states, “To give subtlety to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.” This implies that though wisdom can be acquired through experience, young people can, by listening to the wise and heeding their instructions, gain wisdom that would otherwise take time to acquire. This saves time and enables them to achieve desired results. Some life lessons do not necessarily need to be learned through personal experience; we can leverage the lessons from others to lead effective, productive, and kingdom-focused lives. As the Bible says in Romans 15:4: “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”

The Enticement of Sinners (Proverbs 1:8–19): Righteous (not merely moral) living is uncommon, which makes it easier for believers to be enticed (verse 10). As sons of God, we must resolve not to consent. The embellishment of "gain" is a common tool for enticement, leading to manipulations such as falsification of records, murder (including character assassination), and other forms of wrongdoing to maximize profit. Many fall victim to Ponzi schemes, which promise gains that seem too good to be true, and greed for gain can ultimately lead to loss of life (verse 19). Enticement (temptation) will come; however, it is not sinful to be tempted—yielding to temptation is the sin.

Wisdom Warns (Proverbs 1:20–33): The tone changes here as Wisdom speaks in the first person, extending a loud and open invitation. Despite her efforts, she receives no response. She warns of a time of reckoning when she will be sought but unavailable, saying, “I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh…” (verses 26–28). However, she promises, “Whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely and shall be quiet from the fear of evil” (verse 33). Wisdom personified is Jesus. It is eternally dangerous to reject Him, as He is always calling and not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9). The key point is to heed God’s instructions diligently, ensuring He is our ally as we step into the new year.

Chapter 2 – The Pursuit of Wisdom
Having understood the benefits of wisdom and the dangers of rejecting it, this chapter reveals the extent we must go to pursue wisdom. For example, verse 4 encourages us to seek wisdom as silver and search for her as hidden treasure. It further emphasizes that the Lord is the giver of wisdom (verse 6), meaning we must seek Him, the custodian. As 1 Chronicles 28:9c says, “…If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.” God hides Himself to be found by intentional and diligent seekers, for He is “a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him.”(Heb. 11:6). Wisdom is one of the rewards of diligent seeking and delivers its recipients from evil ways (verse 12), crooked paths (verse 15), and strange women (verse 16).

Chapter 3 – The Blessings (Rewards) of Wisdom
This chapter highlights nuggets for living, such as “bind mercy and truth around your neck” (verse 3) to obtain favor from God and men; “trust in the Lord and lean not on your understanding” (verses 5–6); and “despise not correction from the Lord” (verses 11–12). Each principle carries individual benefits. The chapter shows that wisdom attracts blessings such as longevity (verses 2, 16), favor with God and men (verse 4), internal and external peace (verse 17), love and grace (verse 22), and protection (verse 23). Verse 35 sums up the benefit of living by godly wisdom: “The wise shall inherit glory.”

Chapter 4 – The Father’s Instruction
This chapter begins with a father’s admonishment to obey his commandments, as blessings are tied to obedience. This parallels other conditional blessings in Scripture, such as Deuteronomy 28:1–13 and Isaiah 1:19: “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.” The chapter also emphasizes guarding one’s heart diligently, as it is the source of life’s issues (verses 20–23). Actions stem from the heart, and the sum of these actions determines life’s outcome. Therefore, we must guard our hearts carefully.

Chapters 5 & 7 - Warning Against Strange Women
Both chapters focus on the danger of adultery and the importance of marital fidelity. The father to his son describes the cunningness of a “strange woman” who through sweet mouth (5:3; 7:1-8) and warns that transactions with her will ultimately lead to destruction. “Let not thine heart decline to her ways; go not astray in her paths. For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her. Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.” (vs 25-27). For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life (6:26). The Father subsequently encourages young men to be satisfied and faithful to the wife of their youth, avoiding by all means the walking on the path with a strange woman. Similarly, we should beware of strange gods, messages, doctrines, and counsel, as they can deplete our faith and strength in God.

Chapter 6 – Parental Counsel.
It provides more nuggets for various aspects of life, including financial responsibility, work ethics, and relationships. For instance, it encourages diligence and hard work following the example of ants, emphasizing the importance of preparing for the future and avoiding laziness (6:6-11). Another important aspect can be found in vs 16-20, which highlights the seven abominations that the Lord hates - A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. (vs 16-19). May we not be involved in what the Almighty hates.

Chapters 8 & 9 –Wisdom Calls for Hearing and Wisdom's Invitation.
Both chapters contrast between wisdom and folly, both personified as a woman. Proverbs 8 – 9:12 portrays a feast prepared by wisdom and her effort in inviting people to her banquet, especially the simple (young and inexperienced). Accepting her invitation yields longevity. On the other hand, folly similarly prepares her banquet and sends out an invitation targeting the simple with a catchphrase “stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is sweet” (vs 17). But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell (vs 18).

Chapter 10 –Contrast of the Righteous and the Wicked.
The chapter contrasts the lifestyle and outcomes of the wise and foolish. Overall, wisdom is portrayed as a source of blessing; prosperity and protection while foolishness lead to destruction and adversity (vs 8, 21). It also emphasizes the importance of speaking wisely and truthfully as opposed to gossip and spreading lies (vs 13, 18-21). It also encourages hard work and diligence as conditions for success and abundance (vs 4,22). May the Lord help us to be doers of His word in Jesus' name.