Hello My Friend/Guest,
It is Wednesday Janurary 2, 2008 and today we are continuing our studies on the book of Genesis. Please read, Genesis 4-6. In today's lesson we will learn about Cain and Abel, Cain murdering Abel; the genealogy from Adam to Noah; and Noah's ark.
As the Lord continues to disclose mankind's lineage, He contrasts the ungodly line of Cain with the godly line of Seth. About sixteen hundred years passed from the time of Adam's rebellion to the third great event of history, the flood in Noah's day. The increasing degeneration began with Cain's sacrifice and concluded with the destruction of the wicked in the flood.
The physical, spiritual, and eternal consequences of sin are staggering. It did not take long for Adam and Eve's sin nature to become evident. Their firstborn son Cain became jealous of his brother Abel and angry with God because his sacrifice was unacceptable. "And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 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." (Genesis 4:1-5)
The Lord approached Cain in love and offered him an opportunity to repent of his sin, but this only made him more angry. "And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. 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." (4:6-8). While Cain's offering of the firstfruits of the ground recognized God as Creator, it did not acknowledge Cain as a sinner. Cain was so wrapped up in his jealousy and anger that he had no faith therefore offering God only scraps. By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous. Abel brought the best as a thanksgiving offering, but acknowledged himself a sinner when he brought the firstborn of his flock, this became an offering of a blood sacrifice of a lamb for atonement of his sins.
From the time of Cain and his family, mankind throughout the world had become increasingly sinful and disbedient to God. This made God and hurt by the horrible things that were taken place, in fact he was so angry that he wanted to eliminate everything he created from the earth. "And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them." (6:1-7)
The genealogy of the sons of God continued through Adam and Eve's third son Seth, "And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, and after his image; and called his name Seth:" (5:3) It was Seth's lineage that would eventually bring forth our beloved Jesus.
Their rebellion resulted in the great flood. It was the greatest catastrophe ever experienced upon the earth and its inhabitants. "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD." (6:8). Noah, who was a decendant to Seth did according unto all that the Lord commanded him. In God's wrath His witness was reduced to just one family. It was only Noah who found grace with the Lord. With the word "grace" the Lord reveals His love for His creation and mercy to establish a new life and hope for mankind.
But the flood also had another purpose. It was an act of judgment against sin and it evidenced the need of separation from the independent self-will and rebellion against the Word of God. Noah's separation from death, spiritually and physically, literally took place through the ark, which foreshadowed Christ.
What often happens today is exactly what happened then, but God has his faithful witnesses in every generation. It is these witnesses that are blessed to find grace through our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Chirst is revealed in the lesson through Abel's blood sacrifice. Christ is the Lamb of God, sacrificed for man's sin. Man's best achievements can never take the place of the atonement of Christ, made through His own sinless blood.
Today's Psalm:
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." (23:4)
Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Lord, thank you for giving us hope in this world. Without you, we would be filled with despair. Thank you for showing us the reason for living. You give us every good thing and use everything for our good. Holy Spirit, thank you for being our hearts' compass. We are so glad to be alive! We love you, Lord. In Jesus' name, I pray.....Amen.
Have a wonderful day/night.
God Bless,
Christina
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