Be Fruitful and Multiply

We are currently participating in a Bible study covering the covenant of redemption. Tonight's discussion centered around man being made in God's image and God's desire for man to be fruitful and multiply. After Peggy's post yesterday, this study was timely for me.


Genesis 1

27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created
him; male and female he created them. 28And God blessed them.
And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it
and have dominion over .....

Two things were noted from the above verses:
1. Mankind was made to be "imagers" of God
2. Mankind is commanded to be fruitful and multiply



Genesis 6

1When man began to multiply on the face of the land.... 5The LORD saw
that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of
the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6And the LORD was sorry
that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.

It was then noted in Genesis 6 that God was sorry after man began to fulfill the command to multiply. Why is this? He is sorry because man's thoughts are evil continually. So, men were multiplying enemies of God.



Genesis 9

1And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.

After leaving the Ark, Noah is told to be fruitful and multiply. God's desire for man to fill the earth has not ceased. His anger and wrath from previous chapters was a result of man's wickedness and in multiplying that wickedness.

God desires His imagers to be fruitful and multiply. He desires His people to teach those under our care to know Him. Remember that both believers and non-believers are being fruitful and multiplying and it is a great privilege to raise children in God's truth.

Searching for the Bones of Jesus?

Of course, the documentary on the Discovery Channel tonight was wrong in the conclusion that Jesus' bones have been found. I was not surprised to hear the show claim that we cannot be historical and realistic while trusting the scriptural account that Christ physically arose from the dead. I was also not surprised to see a university scholar claim that finding Jesus' bones would not destroy his faith because he "leaves what happens to bodies to God." That is a noble claim is it not.

Let me clearly state that I find this documentary foolish and without merit. The opening of the show said the information in the following scenes is disputed so the viewer should use their own judgement to decide the truth of what is shown. I have used my judgement and found the show to fully lack truth.

And now a little humor in relation to this story. I was googling for info on this documentary and came across the following comment made by a reader on wtopnews.com.

"I dug up the original Easter Bunny by accident just this weekend. The
tomb had the initials 'E.B' and had mysteriously ancient carrot-like characters."

Reflections: Saddam Hussein's Death

Reflecting on the death of Saddam Hussein, a multitude of questions come to mind related to Saddam before and after death. What is he thinking now? Did he have regrets and fear as he died (probably)? Is judgement an actual event before the throne of God or was he cast directly into hell? Did he realize he was wrong in worshipping allah 1 second after death or were there a few moments before that occurred. The details of life after death are a mystery to us in this world.

As creatures of God, we have eternity in our hearts, and for this reason, the extremely publicized death of an outspoken enemy of the God of scripture causes me to think about God and what death is really like. I know Christians go immediately to the presence of God upon death (no purgatory, holding area, or time of unconscious sleep), but what exactly does that look
like. The immediacy of God's actions upon His enemies is true as well. As we watched Fox News last night moments before Saddam's death I had conflicting feelings and thoughts.

I felt relief that many people would no longer worry that this man would kill them. Saddam, as an enemy of God, deserves his eternal fate, but I was reminded last night that were it not for God's grace, I would be a recipient of the same eternal wrath of God. At about 8:30 (central) last night, it struck me that Saddam was moments from knowing beyond a doubt that God
truly revealed Himself through the Bible and not through the koran or mohamed. Saddam sought his own glory throughout his life, and he has now seen the severe folly of this, but if my pastor's explanation of Mt 25:30 is correct, Saddam is probably weeping and gnashing his teeth in defiance of God even now as he receives the wrath of God.

We have a sickness in our society. We often look upon other religions (ex. Jewish, Muslim, etc.) simply as other ways of believing, but the reality is that God hates these religions. As I read through the book of Kings in the Bible, I am reminded of God's hatred for religion that calls people away from worshipping Him as the true God. The death of an outspoken
enemy of God has drawn my mind to God's power and glory. It reminds me that God is to be feared and revered. My joy increases as I realize I will not receive the same punishment that Saddam is now experiencing and will experience eternally.

If you haven't, take time to reflect on the final moments of Saddam's life as he waited to be hanged, stop a moment today and think about what waited for him upon his death. Realize you will receive the same eternal punishment this evil murderer is receiving unless Christ took your punishment upon Himself. Oh sinner, will you not repent and believe today. When will
death come our way? Saddam, as the leader of a nation, would have answered that question quite differently a few short years ago. As sinners in the hands of an angry God, our only hope is in satisfying that anger through the death of Christ.