Law – Genesis 4 – 7

First of all, apologies to those who woke up yesterday looking for the Daily Bible Reading.  It was not there!  I forgot to press the correct button and the posting did not appear.  Well, I do hope today you are able to read it at the usual time.

We now go back to Genesis Chapters 4 to 7.

Bible Passage: Genesis 1 – 3

Sometimes when we read these familiar passages we wonder how is it that:

• Cain can get so angry and jealous of his brother to the extent of killing him?
• The sons of God can be led away by the daughters of the world?
• The wickedness and violence of man can be so great that even a merciful and loving God can regret creating man?

Didn’t the people in those days know better?

Come on!  God even talked to Cain and warned him to be careful.

When I was reading this passage with my younger daughter, she said, “Wah!  God talked directly to Cain.  Why does He not talk to us in this way today?”

You would think that if God today talked to me directly, I will do everything in my might to please Him and obey Him, isn’t it?

Taking God’s grace for granted is something we certainly should not do.

God’s Grace

And yet God’s grace is present even in the midst of His righteous judgement.  The picture of God I see here is a loving one.

Although He had to punish Cain … he still set a mark on him to preserve him in the world.

Although He wanted to destroy the wickedness in the world by wiping it out with the flood, He still preserved Noah and family, and the other animals that entered the ark.

Lights of the World

One more thing that stuck to mind was that despite all the wickedness and the lack of fear of God amongst the people during those times, there were still a few who chose to stand out of the world.

They chose to remain faithful to God, keeping His commandments and walk with Him.

Enoch was one.  He walked with God and was different from his ancestors and descendents.

Noah was a just man, perfect in his generation.  Why?

Genesis 6:22 – “This Noah didl according to all that God commanded him, so he did.”

Noah displayed his righteous character by doing exactly as God had commended him – even though building the ark must have seemed ridiculous to his neighbours and everyone who saw him.

Not sure if you caught the comedy “Evan Almighty” – a modern retelling to the story of Noah’s ark.  While the ‘Noah’ in the movie was anything but righteous and perfect, the way he struggled to get his ark built in the midst of the ridicule of his colleagues and city folks gave me a glimpse of what the real Noah must have faced when he went about his work.

But like in real life, the reel life Noah’s obedience finally saved him… and all who entered the ark with him.

Ark of the Last Days

We claim that our Church is the ark of the last days.  And it is true.

But do we make an effort to stand out in the midst of all the violence, wickedness and disobedience that abound around us?

Enoch did.  So did Noah.  The question is… what about me?