Genesis 4-7
Overview of Chapter 4
Adam and Eve have two children, and as a result of Eve's sin the birth was painful. The two sons grow up to be different, Cain is a farmer and Abel is a rancher. Both brothers bring and offering to the Lord, but only Abel and his offering are acceptable. God shows his love to Cain by consoling and advising him personally. In verse 7 the Lord gives Cain two pieces of advice: if you do well then you will be happy, but if you do not do well then sin is waiting for you and you will need to overcome it.
Cain does not take God's advice and allows his jealousy to build to the point that he kills his own brother. The Lord speaks to Cain again, but this time it is to punish him. Cain will be a wanderer and the land will no longer yield much produce to him. When Cain complains that the punishment is too severe God shows some grace to him. Cain then leaves the presence of the Lord.
Cain has a family and Adam and Eve have another child whom they name Seth.
Overview of Chapter 5
The first 28 verses of this chapter is a genealogy. One of the most important parts of this genealogy is the phrase "and he died." Adam dies showing God's word to be true, and this pattern continues for each generation after that. One exception is found in verse 24 where it says "Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him."
We are introduced to Noah about whom we are told, "This one will give us rest from our work and from the toil of our hands arising from the ground which the Lord has cursed."
Overview of Chapter 6
God ordained the marriage relationship in chapter 2 to be between a man and a woman, but that is deviated from here as the angels begin to marry females. Their offspring are called Nephilim, and they are mighty people.
"The wickedness of man was great on the earth." Because of this wickedness the Lord says he is sorry and grieved that He made man. The Lord decides that 120 years from now He is going to destroy man by sending a flood over the entire earth.
Noah was different then the rest of the people on earth, he walked with God, was blameless, and righteous. God decides to save him from the worlds destruction and start the world over with him. God gives him the instructions for building an ark and tells him to bring two of every kind of animal on to the ark.
This chapter ends with a phrase that hopefully could be said about each of us someday, "Thus Noah did; according to all that God had commanded him."
Overview of Chapter 7
Now that the ark is built the Lord gives further instruction to Noah that he is supposed to bring seven of the clean animals in addition to the 2 of all the other animals. Noah completes this task and enters the ark and the Lord closes the door behind him.
For the first time it rains on the earth and it lasts for 40 days, and there was so much water that all the mountains were covered. All human and animal life was destroyed except Noah and his family. The water remained for 150 days.
Reflection
When you bring an offering to God do you understand that God looks at you. If you are struggling with happiness are you "doing well." When the Lord instructs you to do something do you do it? Do you walk with the Lord and live a righteous and blameless life?
For Further Study
Cain and Abel: Hebrews 11:4, Hebrews 12:22-24, 1John 3:11-12
Death: Psalm 23:4, Romans 5:12-21, Romans 6:23, 1Corinthians 15:26, 54-57
Nephilim: Numbers 13:33
Noah: Matthew 24:37-39, Hebrews 11:7, 1Peter 3:18-20, 2Peter 2:4-10,
Adam and Eve have two children, and as a result of Eve's sin the birth was painful. The two sons grow up to be different, Cain is a farmer and Abel is a rancher. Both brothers bring and offering to the Lord, but only Abel and his offering are acceptable. God shows his love to Cain by consoling and advising him personally. In verse 7 the Lord gives Cain two pieces of advice: if you do well then you will be happy, but if you do not do well then sin is waiting for you and you will need to overcome it.
Cain does not take God's advice and allows his jealousy to build to the point that he kills his own brother. The Lord speaks to Cain again, but this time it is to punish him. Cain will be a wanderer and the land will no longer yield much produce to him. When Cain complains that the punishment is too severe God shows some grace to him. Cain then leaves the presence of the Lord.
Cain has a family and Adam and Eve have another child whom they name Seth.
Overview of Chapter 5
The first 28 verses of this chapter is a genealogy. One of the most important parts of this genealogy is the phrase "and he died." Adam dies showing God's word to be true, and this pattern continues for each generation after that. One exception is found in verse 24 where it says "Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him."
We are introduced to Noah about whom we are told, "This one will give us rest from our work and from the toil of our hands arising from the ground which the Lord has cursed."
Overview of Chapter 6
God ordained the marriage relationship in chapter 2 to be between a man and a woman, but that is deviated from here as the angels begin to marry females. Their offspring are called Nephilim, and they are mighty people.
"The wickedness of man was great on the earth." Because of this wickedness the Lord says he is sorry and grieved that He made man. The Lord decides that 120 years from now He is going to destroy man by sending a flood over the entire earth.
Noah was different then the rest of the people on earth, he walked with God, was blameless, and righteous. God decides to save him from the worlds destruction and start the world over with him. God gives him the instructions for building an ark and tells him to bring two of every kind of animal on to the ark.
This chapter ends with a phrase that hopefully could be said about each of us someday, "Thus Noah did; according to all that God had commanded him."
Overview of Chapter 7
Now that the ark is built the Lord gives further instruction to Noah that he is supposed to bring seven of the clean animals in addition to the 2 of all the other animals. Noah completes this task and enters the ark and the Lord closes the door behind him.
For the first time it rains on the earth and it lasts for 40 days, and there was so much water that all the mountains were covered. All human and animal life was destroyed except Noah and his family. The water remained for 150 days.
Reflection
When you bring an offering to God do you understand that God looks at you. If you are struggling with happiness are you "doing well." When the Lord instructs you to do something do you do it? Do you walk with the Lord and live a righteous and blameless life?
For Further Study
Cain and Abel: Hebrews 11:4, Hebrews 12:22-24, 1John 3:11-12
Death: Psalm 23:4, Romans 5:12-21, Romans 6:23, 1Corinthians 15:26, 54-57
Nephilim: Numbers 13:33
Noah: Matthew 24:37-39, Hebrews 11:7, 1Peter 3:18-20, 2Peter 2:4-10,
posted by Shaun Sells | 12:01 AM
4 Comments:
Thank you Pastor Shaun for this blog. Belinda and I discussed in some length as to why Abel's offering was more acceptable. Was it due to Abel's bringing to sacrifice "the best of his flock?"
Heb. 11:4 "By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks."
It would seem that the primary difference was that Abel's offering was brought in faith. This of course leads to several other questions, how did they know to bring offerings at all? Apparently they had been taught to do this by their parents or they were compelled by their hearts. If they were taught by their parents, then probably they were taught to bring an animal sacrifice.
Pastor Shaun,
Would you please explain to me what is meant by "clean" and "unclean" animals? Thanks!
Also, thanks for your blog.
Clean and unclean is a designation given by God as to which animals He would accept as a sacrifice and later, in the book of Leviticus chapter 11, which would be acceptable to eat and which would be unacceptable. Copy and paste the following link in your browser to read more:
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=531&letter=C
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