Genesis 8 - 9:1-17

 

Genesis 8 – God Remembered Noah

The flood swept away every living person on the earth except Noah and his family, who were remembered by the Lord.  Because of Noah’s obedient, he and his family were saved.  God was in control when the rain started and when it stopped.  It had been 40 days from the time the rains began.  God remembered Noah and all the animals in the ark and sent a wind over the earth and the waters receded.  First Noah sent out a raven which kept flying back and forth.  Then Noah sent out a dove to see if there flood had receded, but the dove could not find a place to land so it returned.  After seven days Noah sent out a dove again and it returned with an olive leaf.  He knew then the waters were receding.  He waited another seven days and sent a dove again but it did not return. (Gen. 8:11-12).

Did God forget Noah?  When the Bible said “God remembered Noah”, it means that He acknowledged Noah’s faithfulness.  God cannot forget anything.  It’s like remembering a birthday.  It doesn’t mean we have forgotten a birthday, but we acknowledge and remember it each year.  There are other examples in Bible when “God remembered”.  He remembered Abraham, Hannah, His covenant, etc.  He didn’t forget, but acknowledged them.

Do you need assurance that God hasn’t forgotten you?  When you feel this way, stop and think about the salvation God has granted you in Jesus Christ.  Your salvation is not based on anything in you or what you do or don’t do.  God remembered Noah and He remembers you.

Why do you think he sent a dove?  Perhaps God told him to or maybe Noah knew doves ate only plants and if the land and vegetation had surfaced, the dove would fine it.  Then God told Noah in Gen. 8:15-19 – “Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and their wives.   Bring out every kind of living creature that is with you – the birds, the animals, and all the creatures that move along the ground – so they can multiply on the earth and be fruitful and increase in number upon it.”  Noah, his family, and the animals were in the ark for one year.

Don’t you think after a year on the ark Noah wanted to get off immediately?  But he waited until God told him it was ok. – Gen. 8:15.  He was more obedient to God than his own feelings.  God provided for him again by making him wait until the destruction of the land had healed so there would be food for Noah and the animals.

Where are you waiting patiently for God?

How is God providing for you as you wait?

One day God will judge the earth as He did the earth in Noah’s day.  He has plans and purposes and He will bring about His perfect plan.  All those who are against God will be judged, when Jesus returns.  He alone judges justly, but extends saving grace.  He may delay judgment because of His patience and mercy, but He will judge.  God is perfect and loving.  He cannot tolerate sin.  He loved us even though we were sinners.  He loved us enough that He sent His son, Jesus to die in our place and for our sins.

When will Jesus return?  We don’t know, but He will come when we least expect it.  He is waiting as long as He can.  He wants no one to perish, but time is running out.  God’s judgment will inevitably fall and will separate those who trust in Jesus from those who have rejected Him.  God has provided a way of escape for you just as He did for Noah.  That way is through Jesus. 

Are you ready to be judged? 

Are you ready for Jesus to return?

The first thing Noah did after leaving the ark was to build an altar to God.  Noah was thankful to God’s provision and for sparing him and his family.  He responded to God by sacrificing burnt offerings on the altar.  Being a man of God, Noah had probably done this before.  In Genesis 4 Abel’s offering was a fat portion from some of the firstborn of his flock so this was not something new.  This was so pleasing to God that He said He would never again destroy all living creatures as He had done.  “And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.  As long as the earth endures seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” – Gen 8:21b-22.

Are you thankful for God’s provision?

How do you show your thankfulness?

What sacrifices can you offer in response to God?

Genesis 9 – The Covenant

Noah was now living in a new world.  God was so pleased with Noah’s burnt offerings that He blessed him and his sons and told them to be fruitful and to multiply and fill the earth.  God told Noah that every living thing will be food for him just as He had given him greet plants.  He must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it. (Gen. 9:1-4). 

Why did God forbid man to eat the blood of animals?   The life of a creature is in the blood.  Animal blood was used as a sacrifice for the atonement for man’s sins.  Now that Christ shed His blood, we have a new covenant and His blood is the atonement for our sins.

The idea of blood is used often in the Bible.  It represents the life of the being, whether animal or human.  When blood is poured out, life is poured out.  Blood was the sign of mercy for Israel at the first Passover.  Blood was used as a sacrifice at the altar.  Blood made atonement for God’s people.  Blood justifies us and brings redemption.  It brings peace with God.  It cleanses and sanctifies us.  Blood enables us to overcome Satan.

God also said, “I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man.  Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for in the image of God has God made man.” – Gen. 9:5-6.  I think here God is giving man the right and responsibility of capital punishment.

Murder carries with it a sentence of death.  Capital punishment is not murder.  It is the punishment for the crime of murder.  Life is valuable so God requires a life, when a person takes another’s life.  This punishment has been placed into the hands of the State. – Rom. 13:4-5.  Why does God punish by death?  It is because man is the image of God.  Man belongs to God and we are accountable for taking what belongs to Him.

God values all human life, even the life of the unborn.  The Bible is clear on how God values life – Numbers 5:27-28; Psalm 127:3-5; Proverbs 6:16-10; Genesis 1:27; Psalm 22:10; Jeremiah 1:5; Psalm 139:13-18. 

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” – Jer. 1:5 

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.  When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.  All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” – Ps. 139:13-18

God made a covenant with Noah.  He made a rainbow as a sign of this covenant. (Gen. 9:1-13).  Today the symbolism of the rainbow has been corrupted by the world.  It is used to symbolize other things.  It is used as pointing to a treasure with a pot of gold at the end, a peace movement, homosexual rights, etc.  But the rainbow’s purpose is so we remember the faithfulness of God and His promises.

Did you know there is a rainbow in heaven?  Read Rev. 4:3.

What is a covenant?  It is an agreement or contract between two people or two groups that involve promises on each other’s part.  A covenant today has an end date, while a covenant in the Bible is a permanent arrangement.  Covenants in the Bible are still in effect today – snakes still slither on the ground, women still give birth in pain, man hast to work to eat, we all turn to dust when we die, all nations are blessed through Abraham because of Christ, and the land of Israel still belongs to the Jewish people.  Jesus made a covenant with the believers at the Last Supper.  “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” – Luke 22:20.

Because of sin the image of God is blurred and for it to become clear again, you must be born again.  We must be born of the Spirit.  “I tell you the truth no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” – John 3:1.  “You were taught with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires, to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” – Eph. 4:22-24

If we focused on God’s image in other Christians, it would affect our relationships with them.  We wouldn’t be so critical and see their shortcomings and faults.  We need to be more like Christ - more loving, forgiving, and compassionate.  When we believe in Him, the veil of ignorance is lifted and we see the truth.  We are changed and can then be more like Christ. – 2 Cor. 3:15-18.

Principles and Lessons:

God remembers the righteous.

God is powerful and His power controlled the flood waters.

God is the God of new starts.

God promised to never again destroy the earth by water.

God is a Promise Keeper.

Man is of higher order than animals.

Animals are resources as man’s food.

Man is forbidden to eat an animal with the life blood still in it.

God values human life.

Join me here next week as we continue our study of Genesis -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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Genesis 5-7

 

 

Genesis 5 – Genealogy of Adam

God warned Adam to not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil or he would die.  Since Adam and Eve disobeyed and fell to sin, man no longer could eat from the tree of life and therefore no longer would live forever.  Death was now in man’s future.  Chapter 5 shows the genealogy of Adam.  In these verses there are repeated phrases – “he lived” “and then he died”. 

The following scriptures talk about death.

Gen. 2:16-17, James 1:14-15 – sin gives birth to death and always has.

John 3:6-8 – flesh gives birth to flesh – since we are born of Adam and he dies, we also will die.

John 8:24 – you will die in your sins if you don’t believe in Jesus.

Rom. 5:12, 17 – sin and death came through Adam to all.

Romans 5:14 – we all die a physical death because of Adam’s sin.

Romans 6:23 – the wages of sin is death, but through Jesus we can have eternal life.

1 Cor. 15:21-26, 2 Tim.1:8-11 – death is destroyed by Jesus Christ.

Gen. 5:1 tells us the first man was made “in the likeness of God”.  Gen 5:3 tell us Adam’s son was made” in his own likeness” and “in his own image”.  This means when God created man, he was made righteous and made in God’s perfect image and was not born.  Now since Adam brought sin into the world we are made or born in Adam’s likeness and in his imperfect image.  We are sinners and we will see death, because of sin.

Some of Adam’s descendants were faithful to God.  Gen. 5:21-24 – One of these men was Enoch.  We are told that he lived and walked with God for 300 years and then he was no more, because God took him away.  This is the first mention of life after death in the Bible.  He didn’t die like the others.  This shows how one day believers will be taken away (raptured) before Jesus returns.  Heb. 11 tells us Enoch pleased God.  Jude says Enoch prophesied of Jesus’ 2nd coming.

What does it mean to walk faithfully with God?  When the Bible speaks of “walking”, it usually refers to a lifestyle.  Enoch modeled God’s action by obeying His commands and instructions.  He made a relationship with God in his everyday life.  He talked with God and listened to Him.  He was God’s friend.  Walking with God is making Him the most important thing in your life.  You want to talk with Him, you seek Him, and you want to please Him in everything you do.

How are you walking with God?

Are you walking before Him, after Him and with Him?

How could you improve your walk?

The oldest man in history was Methuselah, father of Lamech.  He lived 969 years.  There are differences in the life span between Seth’s descendants in Gen. 5, Shem’s in Gen. 11, the people after Abraham in Gen 12-50 and the life span of people today.  This is probably due to the environmental changes after the flood.  Also the longer men live the more people there are.  There are more pollutants, more hazards and more diseases.  There is more sin and sin is destructive.  Life gets shorter, because of sin.  There is more and more of excessive alcohol use, drug abuse, more murder, smoking, less exercising, poor diet, use of pesticides and fertilizers, etc.  All contribute to our life span.  The average life span now of a man is near 70 and 75 for a woman.

History shows 2 types of people – those who moved away from God and those who called on God.  Lamech was the 7th from Adam in the line of Cain.  He was evil.  Enoch was the 7th from Adam in the line of Seth.  He worshiped God.

Which group are you in?

Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior?

Do you trust God and His promises?

If you knew you were going to live 900 or more years, would you do things differently?

How would this affect your relationship with God?

Another man of faith mentioned in this chapter is Noah.  He and his family lived in a culture that was indifferent to God. 

Genesis 6-7 – The Flood  

“When men began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful and they married any of them they chose.” – Gen. 6:1-2.  Who were the “sons of God”?  These were angels created God, but were fallen angels - angels who rebelled against God and became loyal to Satan.  We know this because Job 1:6 says the angels presented themselves to the Lord and Satan was with them.  Jude 6 says angels did not keep their own domain and are kept in darkness until judgment.   2 Peter 2:4 says God does not spare the angels when they sin, but cast them to hell. 

These fallen angels took on masculine human-like form and took human wives, “daughters of men” and had children with them.  Of course this was not allowed by God.  The resulted offspring were the Nephilim.  The Nephilim were giants with physical superiority and had a demonic element.  Nephilim are also referenced in Numbers 13:33.

What was the purpose of these fallen angels?  Satan tried to pollute the genetic pool of mankind to make the human race unfit to bring the Seed of the woman, the promised Messiah into the world.  He wanted to infect the entire race so the perfect Savior would not come.  He almost succeeded, but God stepped in and started again with Noah and his sons.

God was upset with men and the world.  Marriage and sensuality was taken lightly, inclination and thoughts of man’s heart was evil all the time and there was much violence.  This grieved God so that He decided he would wipe man off the face of the earth. (Gen. 6:5-6)  This judgment ultimately was a good thing for the human race, because it cleared the earth of all evil.

In these passages we learn that God is filled with pain in His heart for mankind.  He is deeply grieved.  He was so sorry of all the evil men were doing that He was willing to destroy everything on the earth - even the animals.  God has a firm commitment to accomplish His righteous purposes and does what was necessary. 

Does God make mistakes?  God does not make mistakes.  This doesn’t mean God made a mistake or that He wished He had done things differently.  God didn’t make a mistake in creating humans.  Instead, He was grieving because of the mistakes humans were making.  It’s possible to experience grief and regret without implying error.  Think of it as any parent who grieves and gets upset with a child when the child does something wrong.   The parent feels pain, but not wishing the child had not been born.  God was simply unhappy with the current state of mankind.

What evil do you see in our world today?  It sounds like Noah’s day was a lot like ours.   There is so much violence on TV and in movies with sex, marriage being degraded, the collapse of the family, shootings, murders, drug abuse, riots, hate and division among people, acceptance of homosexuality, widespread pornography, and the rebelling against God.  We see so much of this type of lifestyle that it seems normal.  We see those who call evil good and good evil.  Can you imagine how God’s heart is grieving?

Why is there so much sin in the world?  Satan is behind it all.  He knows his time is running out so he’s working harder and harder to deceive people.  People are consumed by their desires.  They see all this evil behavior and think it’s ok since others are doing it.  When things go wrong, people want to blame God for it.  Satan loves this thinking.  He knows if people blame God, they will reject Him.  God allows this because He didn’t create us to be puppets.  He allows us to have free choice.  He lets us make the decisions to do right or wrong.

Lamech had a son and named him Noah, which means “rest” or “to comfort”.  Maybe Lamech thought Noah would bring comfort to the world, but he was wrong.  Noah brought comfort to God.  Noah walked with God like his grandfather, Enoch.  Enoch was alive during Noah’s first 69 years of his life.  He probably had a great influence on Noah.  Noah found favor with God in Gen. 6:8.   

Noah was a preacher of the Gospel.  Gen 6:9 – “Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time and he walked with God.”  Noah was not perfect, because we know in Rom. 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”.  We know Noah was righteous, because he did everything God commanded him to do.

Who influences you?

Are you setting a good example for others, for your children?

Since the earth was full of violence and evil, God told Noah He was going to destroy the earth and everything in it and for Noah to build an ark.  God gave Noah all the instructions that were needed on how to make the ark.  It took him 100 years to build it.   

God made a covenant with Noah that he and his family would be spared.  This is the first covenant in the Bible.  “But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark – you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you.” - Gen. 6:18.  He was to enter the ark along with 2 of every kind of creature, male and female and he was to keep them alive.  He was to take every kind of food and store it away for food for his family and the animals.  Where did Noah get these creatures?  God sent them to him.  When God asks us to do something, He always provides.

Just as God said, the rains came and it flooded the earth.  On the 2nd month and the 17th day the rains began and Noah and his family entered the ark.  It rained for 40 days and 40 nights.  Noah was in the ark for 1 year and 10 days.  We know this because Gen. 8:14 says the 2nd month and 27th day the earth was completely dry and Noah came out of the ark.  That’s 1 year and 10 days.  Every living thing – birds, livestock, wild animals, all the creatures over the earth and all mankind perished.  The waters flooded the earth for 150 days.  (Gen 7:24).

I am sure God’s revelation to Noah and his family might have seemed unbelievable, since it had never flooded before, the size of the ark, every kind of animal on earth was to be saved, the feeding of those animals, Noah’s in-laws would perish, his daughter-in-law’s family would perish, and just the magnitude of the event itself.  Noah’s family was probably convinced because of Noah’s faith and his living example, the evil in the world and the evil of those living around them, the animals coming to them and it raining for 40 days.

I thought it was interesting that it rained for 40 days and 40 nights.  The number 40 is mentioned 146 times in the Bible.  It symbolizes a period of testing or trial.  It means something as it brings repentance, newness, self-examination, transformation, escape from bondage, nourishment, growth, and new life.  Below are some examples of the number 40:

Moses lived 40 years in Egypt and 40 years in the desert.

Moses was on Mount Sinai for 40 days and nights on 2 occasions.

Manna rained down on the Israelites for 40 years.

Jonah warned Nineveh for 40 days.

Elijah went 40 days without food or water.

Israel wandered in the desert for 40 years.

Ezekiel laid on his right side for 40 days for Judea’s sins.

Jesus was tempted many times during His 40 days of fasting.

Jesus appeared for 40 days after His resurrection before His ascension.

Saul, David and Solomon each ruled for 40 years.

Abraham tried to bargain with God for Sodom and Gomorrah if 40 righteous people were found.

The Bible was written by 40 different people.

40 is used in counts and measures – forty cows, forty camels, 40 shekels, etc.

Jesus received 40 blows of whip.

The Lent season is 40 days.

The human gestation period for new life is around 40 weeks.

What convinces you the flood was real? – The alleged discovery of the Ark in Iran; the fact that there are stories of a great flood in the ancient traditions of the Egyptian, Indian, Chinese, American Indian, and Babylonian cultures; geological evidence of a flood; rainbows; your faith in God’s Word.

Noah made no excuses and was obedient, are you? 

What if God told you today there would be a worldwide flood and for you to build an ark, would you?

What excuses do you make when God asked you to do something?

How can you be godly when others around you are not?

Principles and Lessons from these chapters:

God rewards those who faithfully walk with Him. – Gen. 5:24  

Marriage between the righteous and the unrighteous is not wise. – Gen 6:1-2 

God is patient, but his grace will eventually end. – Gen. 6:3   

Evil originates in the heart and can take over your life. – Gen. 6:5 

God holds the power of life and death. – Gen 6:7

It is possible to not live as the world lives. – Gen. 6:8

God will bless those who follow the example of Noah and Enoch. – Gen. 6:9, 24

God will judge evil. – Gen. 6:13

God keeps His promise in Gen. 6:17. – Gen. 7:10-12

God’s judgment is inescapable. – Gen. 7:21-23

Join me here next week as we continue our study of Genesis -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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Genesis 4

 

 

Gen. 4:1-5 – Cain’s attitude toward God

In Gen. 3:20 Eve is called Adam’s wife indicating they were married.  The Bible doesn’t record the first marriage ceremony, but the date is not important.  What is important is that the ceremony is performed before God.  In Gen. 4:1 Adam “lay with his wife Eve” and she became pregnant so clearly they were married.  She gave birth to her first son, Cain.  “Pregnant” means “be with child”.  This clearly shows God’s view of human life – life begins at conception!  A baby in the womb is not just tissue.  It’s a child!

The Bible is far from silent on the topic the preborn life in the womb.  There are many Scriptures that point to a person prior to birth.  Ps. 139:13 – “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.”  Jer. 1:4-5 – “The word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.’”  And then there’s Luke 1:39-44 where Elizabeth’s baby leaped in her womb.  Jesus Christ began his incarnation in the womb – “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.” – Luke 2:6-7.

If you are pro-abortion, does this change your belief?

If not, what more proof do you need?

Later she had another son, Abel.  Cain worked the soil and Able kept flocks.  They both gave offerings to God, but God did not like Cain’s offering.  Scripture says that Cain gave fruits from his crops.  It does not say his first fruits.  Abel gave the best portions from the firstborn of his flock.  Throughout the Old Testament God required a blood offering.  Cain could have traded some of his crop for an animal, but chose not to.  God was very pleased with Able. 

God was not pleased with Cain.  Cain had a bad attitude.  He was proud, selfish and probably gave only the leftovers to God.  In Heb. 11 scripture tell us that Abel gave by faith and was a righteous man and gave a better offering.   This implies that Cain had no faith.  God looks at our offerings today the same way.  He sees our hearts and our motives.  We should give God our best, because God gave us all of what we have.  It’s God’s anyway and we should give back to Him with thanksgiving. 

What is your attitude toward giving offerings to God? 

Do you give because it’s expected?

Do you give out of guilt?

Does your giving reveal a picture of your live surrendered to God?

Principle:  God watches our attitude in what and how we give.

Gen 4:6-16 – Cain’s attitude toward sin

Cain was very angry that God didn’t accept his offering, but he knew he was in the wrong.  In our hearts we all know when we do wrong.  God saw on Cain’s face and saw that he was angry and asked him, “Why are you angry?  Why is your face downcast?  If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?  But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.”- Gen 3:6-7.

God tried to reason with Cain and gave him a way to repair his actions, but Cain refused.  He never asked for forgiveness.  Heb. 13:15-16 gives us two sacrifices that please God:  to continue to offer the sacrifice of praise confessing His name and doing good sharing with others.  God showed understanding of Cain’s unhappy heart.  He gave him good advice by telling him what needed to be done.  God shows us compassion and mercy when we mess up, too.  All we have to do is repent.  It was Cain’s choice and it is our choice.

 1 John 3:10-16 lists ways we can repair the wrong we have done –Do what is right, do not be like Cain, do not hate or you are a murderer, love one another, be like Jesus and lay your life down for others.

2 Sam. 12:13 and Psalm 51 tell us that David sinned like Cain.  David realized he had sinned against God and asked for mercy and for God to cleanse him.  David admitted his sin, but Cain did not.  Cain was just pure evil and selfish.

What is your attitude when you have sinned?  1 John 1:8 – “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”

Both Cain and Abel believed in God, because they brought an offering to God, but living God’s way was not a priority for Cain.  He lived his own w.  He was rebellious to God’s authority and wasn’t concerned about his sin.  He was bitter toward God and life.  Abel kept flocks which was probably easier than working the ground like Cain did.  Cain resented Abel because he worked the land and had to work very hard all because of his parent’s sin.  He was angry about his life and at God.  Cain was trying to live life his way.  Anger is revealed in one’s life and it will impact your commitment to God.     

Do you resent those who have it easier than you? 

How are you trying to live your way? 

Are you living with God as your priority?

Cain’s sin multiplied when he lured his brother into the field where he murdered him.  This was premeditated murder.  Why?  He was jealous and probably thought if he got rid of Abel, he would get rid of the problem he had with God.  Here God comes again.  He asked Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” – Gen. 4:9a.  God knew the answer, but He was giving Cain a chance to confess his sin.  God gave him a chance to change.  Cain then became more disrespectful and full of sarcasm.  “Am I my brother’s keeper?” – Gen. 4:9b

God punished Cain because he refused to repent.  Cain was cursed from the earth and would not be successful as a farmer.  He would be a vagabond.  Cain was afraid others would kill him, but God protected him and said if anyone kills you they will suffer vengeance seven times over.  This shows that God still cares for sinners, but will turn them over to their evil desires, if they do not repent.  So Cain left the presence of Lord and settled in the land of Nod.  Nod means shaking or trembling showing restlessness.  He would find no resting place on all the earth.

What is keeping you from repenting of a sin?

Is it anger rooted in jealousy and pride?

Cain said his punishment was too much to bear.  He didn’t feel bad about his sin, but about his punishment.  His attitude is like many people.  They feel bad that they got caught and about the punishment they receive, but they don’t feel bad about the wrong they have done.

God didn’t want Cain to be killed so He put an identifying mark on him for protection. We don’t know what this mark was, but it warned others to not harm him.  All of his life this mark was probably a reminder to Cain of his sin.

Principle:  Indifference to God leads to indifference to sin.

Gen. 4:17-26 – Cain’s attitude impacts his legacy

We are told that Cain took a wife and had children.  Where did he find a wife?  We really don’t know.  Maybe God made other people after Adam and Eve and the Bible just doesn’t tell us about them.  I think the answer is in Gen. 3:20 and Gen. 5:4.  It says Eve was the mother of all the living and that Adam lived 800 years after Seth and had other sons and daughters.  So he must have taken one of his sisters as a wife.  There are a lot of things that will be made clearer to us some day.  The Bible teaches us not to marry blood relatives, because it can produce all sorts of genetic problems.  This law was not introduced until much later in the history of mankind.  Remember, Adam and Eve were genetically perfect.

Cain and his descendants made great advances in civilization.  He built possibly the first city.  They lived in a rich culture.  They produced agriculture, worked the land forging all kinds of tools, and some of his family even played musical instruments.  Cain and his descendants represent the majority of the human race.  Instead of turning to God, they thought they didn’t need Him to survive.  They made up their own rules as they went along and felt no need for finding God. 

In Gen. 4:23 Lamech, the 6^th generation descendent of Cain, broke God’s law of marriage and took 2 wives.  He was the first polygamist.  He also killed a man and bragged about it comparing himself to Cain saying, if Cain is avenged seven times then he would be avenged seventy-seven times.  Jude 11 says to watch out for godless men who have taken the way of Cain.

How have you defied God?

Are you envious or jealous of someone?

Do you have unconfessed sin?

Do you think you can live without God?

Principle:  Our attitude about God and sin can be passed along to the next generation.

Indifference to God leads to an empty life.  Abel suffered for his commitment to God.  Maybe you have a Cain in your life.  God knows your pain.  They are His to redeem and to save.  Ask God to give you a heart like God for your Cain.

What impact does your faith have on the next generation?

Where are you suffering for God? 

Are you a Cain?  God knows you.  Maybe you are mad at God.  You matter to God more than your sin.  He wants to forgive you.  No one can untangle a heart like God.  Your life may be the same, but you can live it in peace.  Cain did not.

If you are living outside God’s presence, will you hear His warning to Cain as a warning to you?  It is not too late to confess your sin, repent and turn to God.  God said to Cain, “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?”  

Join me here next week as we continue our study of Genesis -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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