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- What attributes of God’s character does this passage reveal?
- How does the passage point to Jesus?
- How should the truth of this passage change me?
- How do the events of today’s reading help you better understand the grand narrative of Scripture?
Gen. 4
The Bible doesn’t exactly say why God did not accept Cain’s offering. The obvious difference is that Cain gave plants while Abel gave animals. But we know that God looks beyond the surface, so I think we should as well. The only clue I see is that it says that Cain presented “some” of the land’s produce, but specifies that Abel presented some of the firstborn and their fat portions. So it sounds to me like Abel gave of his best while Cain was careless in his giving.
To further my curiosity, God said to Cain, “If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted?” (From Gen. 4:6). This incident happened long before God gave the Law through Moses, so how was Cain to know what was right? We know God gave Adam and Eve one direct command in the Garden of Eden. However, the Bible gives no indication of how people outside the Garden gauged right and wrong. It makes me think that, being made in the likeness of God, we have some kind of moral code built into us. I guess that’s what we call our conscience.
I have so many more questions about this passage. But there is at least one thing I know for certain. The result of sin is always the same. Just as Adam and Eve were cast out of God’s presence in the Garden, so, too, was Cain alienated from God. Sin separates us from God.
Gen. 5
I never noticed the meaning of Noah’s name before. The footnote in my Bible says that “Noah” sounds like “bring us relief”. For some reason, his father said of him, “This one will bring us relief from the agonizing labor of our hands, caused by the ground the LORD has cursed.” (Gen. 5:29b). Why would he say such a thing? Is this perhaps the first record of a man uttering a prophetic statement in the Bible? It is interesting, then, that Noah’s story is the first representation of God’s providing a way for man to pass from death to life.
Gen. 6
God tells Noah that He is about to destroy the earth with a flood. Then He says, “But I will establish my covenant with you.” (Gen. 7:18a). He gave no real terms or other defining factors for that covenant. Just a promise to save Noah and his family. It was a promise of grace. This ties in with what I just mentioned about Noah’s story being the first representation of God’s provision for our salvation. Not only did God demonstrate His plan for us through His plan for Noah, but He also used Noah to establish His greater plan for the world. Because of Noah, we know that God will bring us relief.
Gen. 7
God saved Noah; Noah did not save himself. Yes, Noah built the ark and gathered provisions with his own hands, but the plan was God’s. And I guarantee that, just as God brought the animals to Noah, He also provided for Noah with the rest of the task as well. God even closed the door of the ark for him. The only thing required of Noah was trust in God and faith that manifested itself in obedience. It is the same thing that is required of us to enter into the grace God planned for us to bring us through the waters of death into His abundant life.