Genesis 1-4
Chapters 1&2- Creation
The story of the creation is often considered too controversial- (or too obsolete) to spend time on in the modern church. Some say that there are just too many things that don’t add up—too many things that don’t coincide with scientific findings. First—just as you cannot explain to your dog how your car works---God does not explain to us how the creation works. God’s ways are higher than ours.
Many people have a problem with the 7 days of creation interpreting it to mean a literal 7 days…but other places in scripture say that a day to the Lord is a thousand years. Many scientist believe the “ day-age theory”…meaning a day is equal to a certain period of time---and not a 24 hour day.
But people miss that it is a picture of God’s love for us…He is Love and He spoke us into existence-He spoke the word--the Bible says that Jesus “was the Word and the Word was with Him---we were created in/thru God’s perfect love
The conclusion is---don’t try to read the book of Genesis literally…it is a record of who God is- not a record of how he created the earth. I personally do not believe any one of us has the exact answer for how he created it all---and it does not matter to me---I BELIEVE HE DID IT---and that is all that matters!
Genesis 3”…and God gave us the free-will to choose for ourselves whether to serve him or to live our life all to and for ourselves
The Fall of Man—John reviewed the story by looking At the 4 characters involved: Eve—a perfect type of a person deciding to sin…to take their life into their own hands—to begin in untrust to do what they think will be better for themselves…to make themselves Lord of their life!! Satan—The Father of all Lies!! He is a liar and deceiver-that is his only power! First –he tries to create doubt about God and His Word(Has he said???) Then he will twist it…then he will deny it ( God has not said) God-- Imagine the hurt as God watched them turn away from Him….but He has given mankind a free-will…and God does not curse them—only the serpent…He does however enforce the consequences of their sin!!! Adam— Adam is certainly not without fault himself…he was there beside Eve as she was tempted…and he did nothing to stop it!! As the spiritual head of the family, he was responsible to do something to stop the serpent! There is no middle ground…God is either King and you won’t allow Satan to gain an influence----or your like Adam—silent as Satan destroys your family, home, and your life…”just because you do not do evil --doesn’t mean you are good” You are either in fellowship doing good—or out of fellowship headed for evil.
Genesis 4
The Story of Cain and Able
Cain and Abel were the sons of Adam and Eve. Cain was a tiller of the earth and Abel a keeper of flocks. Cain committed the first recorded murder by killing his brother Abel. Why did he kill him? How did God deal with Cain? What can we learn from Cain's mistakes?
In the story of Cain and Abel, we see early evidence of themes that are prevalent throughout the Bible. Cain and Abel are types or metaphors, representing the heart-sets (versus mindsets) of humanity. Pride, anger, sin and God’s mercy are all revealed in this short story from Scripture.
The story revolves around a rejected sacrifice. In order to understand the significance of the story, we have to understand that Sacrifices are presented as a way to wash away sin and restore a right relationship with God. Acceptable sacrifices are made with a humble heart that acknowledges and accepts God’s grace.
Cain’s sacrifice was the result of his own works, while Abel’s was the result of his love for his flock. . Cain represents the concept of salvation through works and Abel the concept of salvation by grace (Genesis 4:3-5) “And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.” Cain sought reconciliation by his works, demonstrating pride, while Abel sought reconciliation by presenting a lamb(firstling) that he loved (a metaphor of Christ).
What was wrong with Cain’s offering was his attitude…. his reaction gives us a clue.”was very wroth and his countenance fell”.
The New Testament book of Hebrews says this about it: "By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain". The value of Abel’s sacrifice lay in his attitude towards it. Abel was thankfully offering while Cain was in competition to see who could please God more. He resented the success or good fortune of his brother and he lets that feeling seethe and develop into hatred.
It’s so very human of us to think that we can make up for bad deeds with good deeds; we think that in some way, we’re balancing the scale. But, it doesn’t work. There is nothing that we can do to win salvation but accept it as God’s free gift. We all know people, and sometimes are those people, who work and work and work to be ‘good’ Christians. They lead this Bible study group and serve on that committee. When something needs organizing, they’re right there to do it. These are all good things, just as Cain’s offering was good. BUT… It’s the attitude of presentation that counts.
(Genesis 4:6) “And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?” Cain was angry with God and probably felt slighted or rejected. Cain’s anger stemmed from pride.
Pride is particularly offensive to God because it attempts to usurp praise that is not due. Cain’s pride in his sacrifice attempted to take credit for God’s creation. We can infer from God’s reaction to the sacrifices of Cain and Abel that Abel understood that it was God’s grace that allowed him to make a pleasing sacrifice.
God tries to warn Cain about the power of pride, of all sin, really. (Genesis 4:7) “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door.” When we surrender to temptation, in Cain’s case the temptation of inflated self-worth, we give that sin a foothold. Once established, sin can grow deep roots and eventually conquer us if we let it. Cain ignored God’s warning about sin and seethed with anger and resentment. These feelings put down deep roots in him and he finally was pushed to action against his brother. (Genesis 4:8) “And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.”
When God asked Cain where Abel was, Cain kept up his prideful attitude. Instead of confessing his sin and asking forgiveness “ …he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?” (Genesis 4:9) God already knew what happened to Abel but offered Cain the opportunity to admit his sin. Cain refused the second chance and suffered the consequences.
*All actions have consequences--We choose consequences by our actions. God tells Cain, (Genesis 4:10-12) “the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.”
The consequence of Cain’s sin was the loss of his livelihood and home. Then he feared that others who found out would murder him. But God had mercy on Cain. “And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.” (Genesis 4:15) The mark that God put on Cain was not a punishment but a mercy. It was the thing that would protect Cain from any who sought to kill him.
All sin leaves behind a scar that we cannot remove. We can be forgiven for sin and the sin is removed from God’s memory; but we can’t remove the scar that sin leave on us. These hurtful reminders of sin are the very reason that God wants us to avoid temptation.
God’s hope for us is that we will come to understand the suffering that sin brings into our lives and this is why He asks us to repent.
What is the point of all this? From a theological point of view it is both discouraging and encouraging. Discouraging because inside of only two generations, mankind has messed up, been driven from Eden, and committed murder. We look hopeless. But, it is also encouraging because God is still working with us. Adam fails, so we get a second chance with Cain. Cain fails but God still protects him with a "mark" instead of letting him suffer at the hands of others in the world. AND, God keeps working with humanity right on through the Bible.
* * * * Why is the beginning of Genesis Important?? - Genesis is about beginnings-It’s about God and our relationship with Him… It is the only proper foundation to begin building our faith upon.
CREATION(1-2) God created this world –and all of us in Love…and in His Love, He created a perfect place for us to live…. It really doesn’t matter how He did it!
Fall of Man(3) But mankind chose to rebel against His Lordship---by taking control of our own lives-lose of fellowship(the lack of evil does not make us good)
Cain and Abel(4) mankind is taught another valuable lesson…not only are our actions important—but also our attitude( how and why we do certain things)—God desires a humble spirit offering a sacrifice looking for God’s Grace…not one looking to earn God’s approval thru good-works.. All our actions have consequences…and with our free-will we choose consequences by our actions!
