First questions . . .

I have read Genesis many times throughout my life and know the stories found within pretty well. But apparently, I don't know Genesis as well as I thought. Reading through the beginning of Genesis this week, I find myself asking question after question that I have no answers to. Questions such as:

+ Does the phrase, "God saw that it was good" mean God was pleased with what He had created or does it mean the things He created were inherently good? (Genesis 1)

+ Why did God decide to "separate the waters of the earth from the waters of the heavens"? (Genesis 1:7) "Why not keep everything united and avoid the pain and suffering that lasts until this day?

+ Did all animals have speech and free will as the serpent did (Genesis 3:1) or did satan dwell inside the serpent?

+ Who is "us" in Genesis 3:22 ("Look, the human beings have become like us, knowing both good and evil.)?

+ Why would it be bad if we lived forever as referred to in Genesis 3:22 ("What if they reach out, take fruit from the tree of life, and eat it? Then they will live forever!") Aren't we going to live forever in eternity anyway?

+ Where are Adam and Eve when the Cain kills Abel and God confronts Cain? They seem to be missing. (Genesis 4:9-16)

+ Who was Cain's wife? Was she a sister because only Adam and Eve existed to make children at the time? (Genesis 4:17)

+ What did Enoch do—and how did he live—to have "close fellowship with God" (Genesis 5:22)? What role did God play in their lives at this time? Noah is described in the same way (Genesis 6:9).

+ What is in the world is happening in Genesis 6:4 with the Nephilites?

+ What was the sin that Ham did to Noah by seeing him naked that deserved so dreadful a punishment? (Genesis 9:21-27)

So a lot of questions, but also a lot of concentration on God's Word. This is exactly what I want—time spent reading and thinking about God's words to me. Yes!