Our favourite repentance recipes are remarkably absent from Genesis.

This conversation follows on from last week's episode about Cain, because many of the themes from that story overlap with the story of Noah and the flood. It is fascinating to explore what is missing from these stories, especially given that we've heard them told and retold so many times.

Cain causes quite a few interesting things go wrong with the story.

There are many ways to read the story of Cain and Abel: a test of true worship, an allegory of agricultural society displacing nomadic herdsmen, the progression of sin, or an example of family disfunction. Its inescapably a "dead end" story no matter how you read it, and there are many useful challenges to ponder.

The "fall" reminds us that falls are all too common.

Perhaps the story in Genesis 3 is most important not because "it happened", but because "it is always happening". We take a look at some other falls recorded in the Old Testament.

We explore the importance of stories as we start a quarter on Genesis.

Stories are essential to the way we communicate, and most human societies have found stories to be one of the best ways to transmit meaning and significance. We think of some examples and uncover helpful insights about the ways that Genesis can have impact on our lives.

Powerful ideas continue right up to this last chapter.

We notice a few passages here that seem almost to be ideas the author forgot to include when outlining arguments in previous chapters, and dwell particularly on the theme of "doing good and sharing with those in need".

A comparison with parental discipline is troubling at first, and we find what might be the pinnacle of Hebrews.

The idea of "the Lord disciplining those he loves" is a delicate one, and there are some ideas here perhaps to unlearn. We explore this concept from a few angles. The author seems again to be trying to encourage and uplift the audience, calling for perseverance in the face of persecution. 

The "Heros of Faith" chapter at last!

Lachlan takes issue with some of the inclusions in the list of Faith Heros, and we explore what aspects of their faith led to them "earning a good reputation". We are intrigued that the resurrection hope is so clearly invoked for characters from parts of the Old Testament where this idea seemed less developed. It is also important to notice the list ends with mention of the many who suffered without becoming famous.

After many metaphors for Jesus, Hebrews returns to what it means for us here and now: perseverance.

Hebrews 10 starts with a nice recap of the previous chapter, and so we focus our attention on the second half of the chapter. In many modern translations it has been given a heading about perseverance, and we again dwell on the role of good works. It is also fascinating to ponder what to do with an exhortation to "not give up meeting together" - especially after experiencing the disruptions of COVID-19!

The sanctuary is invoked to further expand the revolutionary theme of Hebrews.

This topic has been important in various ways throughout the history of the Seventh-day Adventist church, and has also been associated with painful events (starting perhaps with a need to make sense of a failed prediction of Christ's return). We attempt to read the chapter with fresh eyes and are intrigued by the specific contrasts that are made between the Israelite Tabernacle and the Heavenly Sanctuary - particularly the lack of any need to repeat.

In the NLT: "Here is the main point..."

The theme of Jesus as priest in a tabernacle has been pre-empted and teased a bit already in Hebrews, but in Chapter 8 it is presented in full. We find the metaphor to be powerful, and are intrigued by the substantial quote from Jeremiah to bolster an articulation of the "New Covenant". It is necessary to acknowledge that some historical readings of Hebrews 8 may have pushed the metaphor too far, and we draw attention to what people can agree on rather than what they might argue about.