The “Story of God” # 2 Genesis 3-9 October 16, 2016

Genesis 3-5: The King Rejected: The Cause The Fall of Adam and Eve is their rejection of God’s Lordship The “crafty” serpent is significant, but much about him is not known Where did he come from? Why does he talk? Is part of his “craftiness” his ability to talk?

Going back to Genesis 2.15, it appears that part of Adam’s and Eve’s duties were to watch out for the serpent; and to evict him from the Garden of Eden through obedience Their failure to obey displayed Adam’s stubbornness, and his interest in being “god-like.” Genesis 3.5

The King Rejected: Consequences 3.15: Hostility between Satan and man 3.16: Pain and difficulty in childbirth and human relationships 3.17-19: difficulty in work and in the world 3.15; 20; 21: the promise of restoration—through conflict, judgment, and humanity CF. Gen 3.15; 20;21—The theme of “Blessing” is a major thought in Genesis—some form of the word is used 88 times. God’s promises to Abraham in Genesis 12 (Abraham Covenant) are a promise to undo the effects of the curse)

Genesis 4.20-22: The world “advances” culturally Genesis 4: the conflict wastes no time—Cain sides with the serpent and kills his brother Abel Cain and Abel both brought offerings Only Abel’s was of faith: Hebrews 11.4 From the beginning, we learn that mechanical obedience will never please God Genesis 4.20-22: The world “advances” culturally Genesis 4.23-24: And declines morally. Lamech is a “civilized savage,” practicing polygamy and vengeance killing

Genesis 5.1-6.8 A summary of the story of mankind, from creation to judgment It is characterized by death; Genesis 5 It is characterized by an avalanche of depravity; Genesis 6.1-8

Genesis 6.9-9.29: The King Responds Adam’s rebellion led to the ruin (corruption 6.12) of the world And so God destroyed the world But spared one man and his family—Noah In God’s deliverance of Noah, the offspring of the woman triumphed over the offspring of the serpent (Genesis 3.15)

And God’s covenant with Noah provides assurance that God’s saving plan will be realized But the judgment did not change the basic nature of the man, as human behavior immediately following the flood shows

To this point, two themes have been developed Rebellion against God brings increasing judgment Exiled from Eden. Genesis 3.23 Exiled from usable land. Genesis 4.12 Human life is limited. Genesis 5 The near annihilation of mankind Genesis 6 No one should ever conclude God is indifferent towards sin

In spite of human rebellion, God is gracious and merciful He does not kill Adam and Eve He protects Cain with some sort of mark Humans reproduce before dying—thus perpetuating the race God shows grace in saving some from cataclysmic judgment None should ever conclude God is uncaring and insensitive