Steven Wales

DIGNITY. Genesis 9:23.

Imagine how a TV sit-com would handle the scene in which Ham found his father Noah passed out drunk and naked…. Today’s situation comedies are known for a stock-character called the “Bumbling Dad,” or “Idiot Father.” Originally designed to mock the “Standard ‘50s Father” from earlier shows, the Bumbling Dad is described as “clever atContinue reading “DIGNITY. Genesis 9:23.”

GOD’S PROMISES. Genesis 9:13-16.

Do you know God’s promises? Praying is like a lawyer standing before a judge. If you can bring to God his promises, quoting his word back to him, then you are praying as he wants you to pray. That is when he will answer you and do what he promised. Forgetting God’s promises hobbles yourContinue reading “GOD’S PROMISES. Genesis 9:13-16.”

WHEN HUMAN EFFORT MEETS GOD’S MIRACULOUS POWER. Genesis 7:16.

God came to Noah with a terrible word. Imagine if God told you that everyone you know outside your family was going to die? Churches speak of Noah’s Ark like it was a trip to the petting zoo. But this was the end of the world. Yet, Noah could not dwell on that. He hadContinue reading “WHEN HUMAN EFFORT MEETS GOD’S MIRACULOUS POWER. Genesis 7:16.”

EATING: THE ORIGINAL SIN. Genesis 3:17.

Man’s first sin was wrong eating. I might have guessed it would be lying, hate, murder, or something immoral—not a snacking violation. I don’t take eating that seriously. Do you? But maybe we can learn something. It begins here: GOD IS THE PROVIDER. “The young lions roar and seek their food from God…. All [theContinue reading “EATING: THE ORIGINAL SIN. Genesis 3:17.”

BROTHER, CAN YOU SPARE A RIB? Genesis 2:21-24.

I had a childhood argument with the girl next-door. She said girls had more ribs than boys because God had taken one of Adam’s ribs to make Eve, and ever since… Of course, that’s as silly as her belief that thunder was the sound of God bowling. Humans have 24 ribs. But how many couldContinue reading “BROTHER, CAN YOU SPARE A RIB? Genesis 2:21-24.”

THE PARADE OF THE ANIMALS. Genesis 2:19-20.

Twice the Bible records the same miracle: all the animals line up in parade formation and march. How many paintings are there in Sunday schools and doctors’ offices showing animals streaming toward the S.S. Noah, beasts of every shape and size, calmly moving in neat lines, more well-behaved than shoppers on Black Friday? But thatContinue reading “THE PARADE OF THE ANIMALS. Genesis 2:19-20.”

WHY THE ARK?Genesis 6:21; Isaiah 30:21.

Why did God tell Noah to build an ark? God could have just miraculously provided an ark. But He enjoys partnering with us! He gave Noah a job—spend decades building the biggest thing anyone has ever built. Noah was responsible for the most amazing ZOO in history. I noticed this verse: “Take with you everyContinue reading “WHY THE ARK?Genesis 6:21; Isaiah 30:21.”

DOES THE EVIL WORLD OVERWHELM YOU? Genesis 6:5-6

In Genesis, God looks at people and regrets creating us. Imagine being so bad God regrets you. Hard to imagine? But that’s all of us apart from His blood. When the Lord saw that man’s wickedness was widespread on the earth, and that every scheme he thought of was nothing but evil all the time,Continue reading “DOES THE EVIL WORLD OVERWHELM YOU? Genesis 6:5-6”

Don’t Doubt in the Darkness What God Told You in the Light. Genesis 3

When you hear of a terrible, unspeakable tragedy such as a young man I’ll call Tommy who took his own life suddenly and without warning, it should remind you that we have an enemy. YOU have an enemy. And you may wonder, ‘Who am I? Why would he care about me? I’m no missionary,’ orContinue reading “Don’t Doubt in the Darkness What God Told You in the Light. Genesis 3”

THE COMPLEMENT AT THE CENTER OF CREATION. Genesis 2:18-23.

Genesis 1 is a symphony—beginning quietly, a single oboe smoking out a note, clarinets join, more wind instruments, some strings, cello and bass, violins, a bit of percussion. The organ creates a pavement of sound, a foundation for a massive edifice, and the whole thing swirls and swells growing louder, faster, over 100 instruments now,Continue reading “THE COMPLEMENT AT THE CENTER OF CREATION. Genesis 2:18-23.”