Several years ago a young woman came to me for some advice.  She had been dating a young man whom she thought she really liked but something happened and she wondered if it was a red flag or if she was overreacting to a trivial thing that would not matter in their future relationship.  It seems that he was getting seriously interested as well and thought she should come meet his family.  On the way he received a text from his sister.  "Be careful.  Dad is home early and he is not happy."  She decided it was not fair to make a judgment on a secondhand piece of information, even though her young man had suddenly become quiet and a bit withdrawn.  When she arrived at his family's home, he was met at the door by his mother, who whispered into his ear before welcoming his girlfriend.  Everyone seemed subdued, talking quietly and stopping to peer over their shoulders every so often.  Finally, at dinner, all of them sat down together and the father was definitely not in a good mood, did not welcome her, and spent his time either eating in silence or questioning the mother about her activities for the day.  Interrogating, the young lady said, was a more accurate a word.
            What did I tell her?  That her instincts were probably correct.  If this is the way the young man learned headship, things would more than likely be difficult.  She did not want to give him up initially, but soon he came to her home to meet her family and was shocked at the lively conversation around the meal, the joking between both parents and between parents and children, and the general pleasantness and playfulness.  "Is your family always like this?" he asked.  I felt sorry for the young man at that, and so did she, but before many more weeks had passed, she was receiving phone calls from him wanting to know every detail of her day, including everything she ate and drank, and giving her instructions about what she should and should not eat!  At that point, it was over.  I breathed a sigh of relief.
            The manner of a father whose appearance at home caused fear in the entire family so that they are sending quick messages to "Be careful," reminded me of that old saying I have heard so many times.  "If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy."  I'm sorry, but that is nothing to brag about.  In fact, I would be ashamed to have someone say it about me.  To even think that my bad moods should effect the people I love is completely opposite of the admonitions to encourage, lift up, and make glad.  This is not the manner of ordained headship and it certainly isn't love.
            All the way back to the beginning, God has warned against bad moods.  He told Cain, Why are you wroth? and why is your countenance fallen? If you do well, shall it not be lifted up? and if you do not well, sin couches at the door: and unto you shall be its desire; but you rule over it.  Cain was in a very bad mood.  Why? Because God had not accepted his sacrifice.  God told him that being in a bad mood was one of the most dangerous things that could happen to him.  Do better, He said, and your mood will be better as well.  A bad mood puts you in a dangerous place, a place where sin will rule over you instead of your ruling over it.  Sure enough, Cain fell prey to Satan because of his bad mood, his "fallen countenance."  It led him to unjust anger and then to murder.
            When we allow our bad moods to not only fester within us, but also to cause fear and distress to others, we are sinning.  Period!  Proverbs warns us that we can tear our homes apart with our own hands (Prov 14:1).  Surely the same thing applies to one filled with the poison of a bad mood, and it usually shows itself in the words that come from such a person.  Hear, for I will speak excellent things; And the opening of my lips shall be right things. For my mouth shall utter truth; And wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.  Does any of that sound like a Mama—or Daddy--in a bad mood?  God expects us to control our moods.  
            If Mama ain't happy (or Daddy), she had better get herself together and exercise some self-control just as God instructed Cain.  No one should be afraid to walk into my house any time of any day.
 
The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable; But the mouth of the wicked speaks perverseness,  Prov 10:32.
 
Dene Ward
 

This year we picked our first garden produce in early April.  Finding that first inch long green bean hiding among the thick spade-shaped foliage gives you a thrill, but seeing the first shiny green silks spewing out of the corn shucks and the tassels creeping out of the top positively makes your mouth water.  When it has been nearly a year since sinking your teeth into a row of crisp, juicy, buttered and salted kernels, the anticipation is intense.
            If you are not a gardener you might not truly appreciate the sacrifice of the firstfruits under the Old Law.  Every gardener knows that the first picking is the best.  As time passes, the corn and beans toughen.  The tomatoes and peppers become smaller and smaller and rot more quickly from the many blemishes.  The cucumbers turn yellow and overblown before they reach their full length.  Yet we have the frozen food section at the grocery store and a produce section that brings food from places where the firstfruits are just appearing.  Many of us have never seen anything but the firstfruits.
            I’ve often heard that certain frozen and canned vegetables, especially sweet peas and tomatoes, are more reliably good than the fresh.  They are picked at their peak and processed within hours.  We can have the best any time of the year, and we take it for granted.  The devout Israelite never had that opportunity.  It was ingrained in him from birth:  the best belongs to the Lord.
            All the best of the oil, and all the best of the vintage, and of the grain, the first-fruits of them which they give unto Jehovah...The first-ripe fruits of all that is in their land, which they bring unto Jehovah… (Numbers 18:12-13)
            As a dedicated Hebrew watched his crops grow, his cattle bear, his vines hang lower and lower with the heaviness of ripening fruit, he knew that the best would not be for him, but an offering to the Lord.
            And this shall be the priests' due from the people, from them that offer a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep, that they shall give unto the priest the shoulder, and the two cheeks, and the maw. The first-fruits of your grain, of your new wine, and of your oil, and the first of the fleece of your sheep, shall you give him. For Jehovah your God has chosen him out of all your tribes, to stand to minister in the name of Jehovah, him and his sons forever. Deuteronomy 18:3-5.
            The pious Israelite knew that the best of the fruits of his labor would be eaten not by his family, but by Jehovah’s priests, his representatives on earth. 
            The first of the first-fruits of your ground you shall bring into the house of Jehovah your God. Exodus 23:19.
            Not just the firstfruits, but the first of the firstfruits—the best of the best—was required in his service to God.
            Most of us have learned that our weekly contribution of money must be “purposed” (2 Cor 9:7).  But we haven’t learned to apply that axiom to every aspect of our lives.  Too often God gets nothing but our leftover time, our leftover energy, our leftover effort.  I’ve heard Christians talk about exercising when their bodies are at their peak, about avoiding certain times of the day for important work, about matching body rhythms to tasks.  Do we ever talk like that our about service to God?  Do we offer service that is well planned, organized for maximum efficiency, and timed for greatest effect?  Yes, we often talk about caring for our temples (bodies) so we can use them for God, but then we use all that energy for everything else instead and still God gets the leftovers.
            The principle of the firstfruits was so important the Hezekiah included it in his great restoration (2 Chron 31:5).  It was deemed so necessary to a true attitude of worship that Nehemiah charged the returning exiles to keep those ordinances in particular (Neh 10:35-39).
            We sing a hymn:  “Give of Your Best to the Master.”  That principle has not changed.  In fact, we are the firstfruits (James 1:18), brought forth by the word of truth.  As such, God expects us to give ourselves.  If we do, the rest will follow.  If it hasn’t, maybe we need to take a closer look at our “devotion.”
 
…but they first gave themselves to God…2 Cor 8:5.                                    
 
Dene Ward                                                           

Today's post is by guest writer Joanne Beckley.

Whenever we are “struck” with attraction toward another (whether we are young or old!), we need to identify that attraction for what it is. In today’s terms we identify differences in this attraction as affection, sexual infatuation, and love. Each are various degrees of love. We all recognize a caring, warm feeling of affection toward one another (John 21 Peter’s substitution for “agape” love), but when this drifts into a feeling of being sexually stimulated, we need to identify it for what it is and make a conscious choice. Do I allow it to increase? Or with will power strike it down? When we want to please God, it will be the latter until it can be acted upon in marriage.
 
When we talk with our young people we need to help them identify the difference between infatuation and love. Can we? Do we ourselves have a clear understanding? So lets talk about it.
 
"Infatuation love" refers to a strong, often intense feeling of attraction or interest towards someone. It is usually based on a superficial level of connection, physical appearance, or excitement of a new relationship. This level is often short-lived and not as deep or committed as true love. Infatuation is essentially a quick and passionate crush that may not stand the test of time.
 
“Infatuation creates illusions, and illusions are dangerous people. They have no flaws.”
 
On the other hand, love identifies and acknowledges differences as individuality, accepting the other as a whole. Love looks to celebrate these differences and build a connection that allows both people to thrive as individuals. It may require intentional work and effort to come together toward a mutual goal. Love is a choice.
 
Consider the relationship between Joseph and Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39:9-16). Joseph recognized her sexual attraction toward him as infatuation and and acknowledged that acting on it was not right in God’s eyes. He ran!
 
Amnon did not run, but rather acted with absolute determination to have his sister Tamar. (2Samuel 13). King David did not run (2Samuel 12) and let his sexual need rule his heart and head. Both destroyed any possible good.

Whatever love there is in man, whether toward God or toward our fellowman, love has its source in God (1John 4:7, 19). The highest form of love implies a clear determination of the will and judgment. When we read through 1Corinthians 13, it is obvious that love demands considered action whether toward God or man. Love is an earnest and anxious desire in the well-being of the one loved. How it is shown will depend on circumstances and relationships.
 
Love should be “without hypocrisy” (Rom 12:9). There should be no pretense about it. It should not be a thing of mere word or tongue, but in deed and truth (1John 3:18). Real love will find its expression in service to man. “Through love be servants one of another” (Gal 5:13). Love bears the frailness of the weak, seeking their welfare (Rom 15:1-3; Phil 2:21; Gal 6:2; 1 Cor 10:24). One gladly forgives (Eph 4:32) and honors the one loved (Rom 12:10).
 
Love is an intense feeling of deep affection
Infatuation is an intense but short-lived passion or admiration for someone.
 
Love develops over time
Infatuation is instant
 
Love lasts a long time.
Infatuation is temporary and never develops.
 
Love accepts the imperfections of the other.
Infatuation only sees or imagines the perfections.
 
Love is more than a physical attraction.
Infatuation is mostly a physical attraction.
 
Love doesn't make a person irrational.
Infatuation can make a person act irrationally.
 
We must learn the difference if we ever hope to have a lasting love.
 
Joanne Beckley

We planted them late by Florida standards, so I was just pulling carrots the first week of June.  It wasn’t difficult; I pulled the whole row in about 15 minutes.  Still, it was disappointing—a twenty foot row yielded a two and a half gallon bucket of carrots that turned into a two quart pot full when they were cleaned and sorted, cutting off the tops and tossing those that were pencil thin or bug-eaten.

            Then I thought, well, consider the remnant principle in the Bible.  Out of all the people in the world, even granting that the population was much less than it is now, only eight were saved at the Flood.  Out of all the nations in the world, God only chose one as His people.  Out of all those, only one tribe survived the Assyrians, and out of all those, only a few survived the Babylonians and only some of those eventually returned to the land.

            Jesus spoke of the wide gate and the narrow gate.  Surely that tells us that though God wishes all to be saved, only a few will be.  So out of a twenty foot row of carrots, I probably threw out half.  Then we threw out a third of those that were too small to even try to scrub and peel.  Yet, we probably did better with our carrots than the Lord will manage with people!  And I learned other principles too.

            When I pulled those carrots some of them had full beautiful tops, green, thick-stemmed, and smelling of cooked carrots when I lopped them off.  Yet under all that lush greenery several had very little carrot at all.  They were superficial carrots—all show and no substance.  Others were pale and bitter, hardly good for eating without adding a substantial amount of sugar.  Then under some thin, sparse tops, I often found a good-sized root, deep orange and sweet.  Yes, they were all the same variety, but something happened to them in the growth process.

            Some of us are all top and no root.  It always surprises me when a man who is so regular in his attendance has so little depth to his faith.  Surely sitting in a place where the Word is taught on a consistent basis should have given him something, even if just by osmosis.  But no, it takes effort to absorb the Word of God and more effort to put it into practice, delving deeper and deeper into its pages and considering its concepts.  The Pharisees could quote scripture all day, but they lacked the honesty to look at themselves in its reflection.

            And there are some of us who have little to show on the outside, but a depth no one will know until a tragedy strikes, or an attack on the faith arises, or a need presents itself, and suddenly they are there, standing for the truth, showing their faith, answering the call.           

            I knew one man who surprised us all with his strength in the midst of trial, a quiet man hardly anyone ever noticed.  Yet his steadfastness under pressure was remarkable.  I knew another who had been loud with his faith, nearly boasting in his confidence that he was strong, yet who shocked us all with his inability to accept the will of God, his assertions that he shouldn’t have to bear such a burden when he had been so faithful for so long.  Truly those carrot tops will fool you if you aren’t careful.  “Judge not by appearance,” Jesus said, “but judge righteous judgment.”  Look beneath those leafy greens and see where and how your root lies.

            Evidently the principles stand both for man and carrots.  Don’t count on your outward show, your pedigree in the faith.  Develop a deep root, one that will grow sweeter as time passes and strong enough to stand the heat of trial. 

           And don’t assume you are in the righteous remnant if that righteousness hasn’t been tested lately.  God hates more to throw out people than I hate to throw out carrots, but He will.  Don’t spend so much time preening your tops that your root withers.  And finally, only a few will make it to the table; make sure you are one of them.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20

Dene Ward        

This is the second in the set of books on Knowing God written by this author.  At first, you might be skeptical.  I have heard more than once that the Fatherhood of God is only recognized in the New Testament.  This book will completely undo that notion.  While it is true that the Jews themselves seldom talked about the Fatherhood of God, the Old Testament itself does speak of God as the Father of the nation of Israel, especially in the Psalms and Prophets. 
            Mr. Wright first tells us why the Jews did not often speak of this relationship and, given the cultures they were surrounded by, it certainly makes sense.  I won't give it away.  But then he takes us through the scriptures one by one and shows that God did consider the nation Israel his "firstborn son" and he its Father, in passage after passage, beginning in Ex 4:22--Israel is my son, my firstborn.  From there, he traces all the fatherly attributes of God--love, provision, grace, discipline--until we are virtually overwhelmed with the evidence in front of us.  In fact, you might find yourself better able to see the traits of the Fatherhood of God from the Old Testament than the New by the time he is finished.
            I also heartily applaud the way he makes pertinent application and reprimands some of the modern evangelists who seem unable to use figurative language in an appropriate way or who dupe the innocent by their dogmas.  He calls them out in no uncertain terms.  Good for him.
            Knowing God the Father through the Old Testament is published by InterVarsity Press.
 
Dene Ward

Today's post is by guest writer Keith Ward.

Jer 8:4  “Shall men fall and not rise again?  Shall one turn aside and not return?”
 
            We would be astonished to see someone trip and fall and not get up. Probably, we would rush to his aid, thinking he was seriously injured. But we would be totally confused should he say, “No, I am all right; I decided not to get up because I like it down here.” 
            God sent his prophets to warn the people of Israel that they were as foolish as that man. They fell into idolatry and sin and rather than admit their mistake, they said, “I like it down here.” Bible students know that God caused his people to be carried into Babylonian captivity for their sin. Finally, they awakened from their sin-induced stupor and did a U-turn in their hearts, so God returned them to the Promised Land.
            In our society, many seem to be like the man fallen on the ground who proclaims, “Life is great down here; get your head out of the clouds and join me.”  Anyone with any moral standards left at all can look about and see many reasons for God to bring judgment on this wicked society – fornication abounds to the extent that when one sins with the same partner for more than a week, it is a “relationship”, babies older than John the Baptist who “leapt for joy” in Elizabeth’s womb (Lk 1:44) are murdered every day, the judicial system protects criminals who prey on society from the justice due them, etc. How can we not fear that a Day of Judgment from God is about to be unleashed upon us? Even the religious leaders, who should be crying aloud for repentance, plead for acceptance of sinners who refuse to repent and who continue to grow worse and worse, “The prophets [evangelists] prophesy falsely and the priests rule by what profits them and MY PEOPLE love to have it so” Jer 5:30-31).
            God’s good news is that we have a savior who will help us to our feet, who will brush the dirt of our evil desires from us, and who will turn us from the ways of the world into the old paths that lead to God.
 
Jer 6:16 “Thus says the LORD: Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.”
 
Or as Jesus’ invitation: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Mt 11:28).
 
Keith Ward

“I enjoyed my dinner.”  Did your parents teach you to say that to the hostess every time you went to another home for a meal?  Mine did, and I am sure that the hostess knew that’s why I said it.  Some things are done just to be polite, like asking, “How are you?”  Everyone knows it is a greeting not a question to be answered.  It’s semantics, and part of our culture.
            But there are other times when the compliment is sincere.  Keith learned early on when someone was saying, “Good lesson,” to be polite, and when it was really meant, and the latter were precious to him.
            If we can know these things, why do we think God won’t?  Why do we think we can go through the motions without going through the e-motions? 
            There they cry out, but he does not answer, because of the pride of evil men. Surely God does not hear an empty cry, nor does the Almighty regard it, Job 35:12-13.  If the only time God hears from me is when I cannot fend for myself, why would He come to my aid then?  If I expect help, I must offer something myself—like love, devotion, worship, and obedience.  That’s why it is called a covenant—both parties agree to give something.
            They utter mere words; with empty oaths they make covenants, Hos 10:4.  Undoubtedly, the covenant Israel made with God fit this condemnation.  Instead of loving God “with all their hearts,” they did what they thought necessary to get along with Him, imagining that outward rituals mattered more than sincere hearts.  It has never been so with God, and never will be.
            You cannot give God ritual obedience and think you have offered sincere worship.  You cannot follow the Law to the letter and leave undone its weightier matters Matt 23:23.  Israel tried it and God said, I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.  Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them… Amos 5:21,22.  Jesus echoed that comment when he said, Go and learn what this means—I desire mercy and not sacrifice… Matt 9:13.
            God has always required sincerity and truth; He has always wanted those who obey from the heart Rom 6:17.  He has always sought a people who will be His in more than name only.  God knows when, “I enjoyed my dinner,” comes from a thankful heart and when it is just a courtesy. 
            When you pray tonight, will He recognize your words as sincere compliments, or just more formulaic nonsense meant only to salve a hypocritical conscience?”  He knows the difference.
 
This day the Lord your God commands you to do these statutes and rules.  You shall therefore be careful to do them with all your heart and with all your soul, Deut 26:16.
 
Dene Ward

On his original opinion of "church:"

        "I disliked very much their hymns, which I considered to be fifth-rate poems set to sixth-rate music. But as I went on I saw the great merit of it. I came up against different people of quite different outlooks and different education, and then gradually my conceit just began peeling off. I realized that the hymns (which were just sixth-rate music) were, nevertheless, being sung with devotion and benefit by an old saint in elastic-side boots in the opposite pew, and then you realize that you aren’t fit to clean those boots. It gets you out of your solitary conceit.”

C. S Lewis, God in the Dock, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1970, pp. 61-62.

Today's post is by guest writer Joanne Beckley.

Forgiveness can never be deserved, for man cannot remove his own sin which has created a barrier between him and God. Though forgiveness is on God's part an act of pure grace prompted by His love and mercy, and though He forgives freely all those who comply with the condition of repentance and obedience and abandonment of sin, this does not ignore the necessity of an atonement. Jesus’ death and resurrection made it possible for God to forgive you and me, Romans 5:10 For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. We will never deserve forgiveness for our sins, yet we can be forgiven when we believe and obey His Son, and trust in His ability to do so.
 
But what about man toward man? (Or should I write woman toward woman?) Do we ever deserve to be forgiven of sin? Must man forever carry the guilt of what he has done toward another? No! We forgive primarily to honor Christ. The other person is merely the recipient of our obedience to God. On the other hand, whatever hurtful thing we have done must be realized, accepted, grieved over, and then asked to be forgiven. Until the other person wholly forgives, we will carry the unrelieved burden of grief and guilt buried deep within. If unforgiven, we will feel the other does not believe forgiveness is necessary or deserved. Everyone sins (not just “oopsies”). It is love that will cover sin. 1Peter 4:8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.
 
What about our own ability to trust another’s forgiveness when we know we have deeply hurt that person? Do we feel that we can never deserve to be forgiven? There must be the knowledge that accepting love in the form of forgiveness is something we cannot afford to ignore or discard. Forgiveness and accepting forgiveness are absolutely necessary to bind two human beings together.
 
We have a very strong example of this dilemma in Genesis 45-50. For many, many years Joseph’s brothers carried their guilt concerning what they had done to their father and especially to their brother. When they were finally able to express their sorrow to Joseph and hear Joseph’s words to try to reassure them that he had already forgiven them, they were not reassured. This was evident a number of years later when their father Jacob died and they were still fearful of Joseph’s forgiveness. They didn’t feel they deserved his forgiveness. They didn’t trust Joseph’s truth of being able to forgive or their right to be forgiven. Joseph learned to forgive while being refined and tested by God while in Egypt (Psalm 105:19); his brothers had to learn to accept with thanksgiving.
 
Now to ask a very important question. Can you believe and trust when someone forgives you? Or do you still carry your guilt and grief around with you? Do you resurrect it in your mind and in your speech year after year? No? Consider the husband/wife relationship. What tends to happen in an argument that gets heated. “You always, you never!” A lack of trust cannot heal.
 
One more question. God has said he has forgiven you. Do you believe His promise? Or do you continue to feel you do not deserve to be forgiven? God thinks you do! We must learn to trust in His forgiveness throughout the years by reading the Scriptures, acknowledge that He has answered our prayers, trust in His promise to wipe our slate clean, and always give thanks. What a gift! True peace.
 
Philippians 4:6,7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Joanne Beckley

Today I am giving you a list of passages.  You may look at them and say, "So what?"  It may look like a bunch of useless information to you.  But first, should we automatically discard anything in the Bible and label it useless?  And second, wait till you see what I can do with these.

All of these passages are in the book of Genesis:
11:26 Terah was 70 when he had his first son.
11:32 Terah died at 205.
12:4 Abram was 75 when Terah died and he left Haran.
16:16 Abram was 86 when Ishmael was born.
17:1ff Abraham was 99 when circumcision was instituted and his name was changed.
17:17; 21:5 Abraham was 100 and Sarah 90 when Isaac was born.
23:1 Sarah was 127 when she died.
25:7 Abraham was 175 when he died.
25:20 Isaac was 40 when he married Rebekah.
25:26 Isaac was 60 when Jacob and Esau were born.
26:34,35 Esau was 40 when he married to the two Hittite women.
30:25,26 Joseph was born at the end of Jacob's 14 years of labor.
31:41 Jacob was in Haran 20 years altogether. 
35:16 Benjamin was born on Jacob's trip home.
35:28 Isaac was 180 when he died.
37:2 Joseph was 17 when his brothers sold him.
41:46 Joseph was 30 when he interpreted Pharaoh's dream.
45:6 Joseph was 39 when the family moved to Egypt.
47:9 Jacob was 130 when the family moved to Egypt.
47:28 Jacob died at 147.
50:26 Joseph died at 110.

               So what is the point?  I imagine that you are just like me and have mental pictures of the stories in Genesis because of the way they were told to you as a child.  Some of those mental pictures are completely wrong.  Here are just a few things you can figure out using the list above.
               Abraham could not possibly have been the eldest son and if Haran, who died in Ur, was the oldest, then nephew Lot, Haran's son, could have been older than Uncle Abraham!
               When Pharaoh thought Sarah was so beautiful that he whisked her into his harem, she was 65 years old!
               When Isaac said, "I am old," in 27:2, he was indeed 137, but was certainly not on his deathbed because he lived another 43 years.
               Jacob was 77 when he fled to Haran and 84 when he married Leah and Rachel.  He had been in Haran a month before he fell for Rachel and bargained his labor to marry her.  So much for sweet young "love at first sight."
               Jacob and Esau were 15 when their grandfather Abraham died.  That means they had plenty of time to hear the old stories, including how their grandfather had felt so strongly about finding the woman who became their mother that he wouldn't even let Isaac leave the land.  Yet, Esau still married Hittite women, a tribe of Canaanite, whom they should also have known were cursed since the flood. 
               Isaac was alive when Joseph "disappeared," but died 12 years before he was found in Egypt.
               Joseph was 56 when Jacob died.
               Depending upon how much time you want to put into it, you can figure out a lot of other things too.  In fact, you should probably print this list out and then keep it tucked into your Bible in the book of Genesis.  It will not only give you a more accurate picture of these events, but it might help you see them as real people, people you can learn from in far more ways than you ever thought possible.
 
These things happened to them as examples and were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come 1Cor10:11.

Dene Ward