January 2, 2017 – Genesis 4-7 – What Went So Wrong?

The New Year has gotten off to a start I did not intend. When doing a daily blog there is a lot of discipline that goes into this. This is only day two and I have already missed the mark. There is a part of me that wants to work far in advance to elevate any misses on the daily reading. There is also a part of me that wants to be timely and weave the daily readings into current events when possible. So right now the plan is to only be a day or two ahead.

But then life happens. Last week when my family and I were on vacation in Florida, when I planned to start my daily writings for the Bible reading, we were involved in car wreck. Working with insurance, replacing car seats, getting a rental vehicle and slightly changing our travel plans, messed this up.

So, today’s reading, is unfortunately a day behind. But we will adjust this, get caught up and work to do better as we press on into 2017.

Below are my thoughts from the daily Bible reading of the West Side Church of Christ. Today’s reading comes from Genesis 4-7. Before reading I invite you to pray and asked God to speak to you as you read His Word. Also above in the tabs is a link to the Bible reading plan.

What Does This Passage Say?

• Genesis 4 takes us to the next development in the story of humanity. Man has already sinned, but this sin was solely a disobedience to God. Now, we see sin take a wrong turn where one man commits a sin against another human. Because God looked more favorably on Abel’s sin Cain killed his brother. As far as we know, this is the first sin committed against another human.
• Genesis 4 and 5 then begins to outline the progression of man creating a family tree from Adam to Noah.
• Genesis 6 & 7 begin to tell the story of Noah. Once mankind had sinned, disobedience to God spiraled out of control. The beautiful relationship God had with man was all but gone. In fact, things got so bad, God looked at mankind and decided to wipe us off the earth … except for one family … Noah and his three sons. This family was righteous and honored God. So, God commanded Noah to build and ark and take every species upon it, one male and one female. When all was done (100 years later) God sent flood waters over the earth.

What is This Passage Teaching?

• If we were to try and give our reading today a theme we might be wise to ask the question, “What went wrong.” In chapters 1-3 we see God very pleased with His creation, especially mankind. But then we see sin enter the picture. From their sin sparks anger and jealousy where Cain murders his own brother. Then we witnessed sin grow so bad that God is fed up with mankind that He wipes out the entire human race … except for one family.
• But what is amazing, even though sin separated us from God, even though God decided to start over with mankind through Noah, God still left a glimmer of hope. Just as He did when He was announcing the consequences of mankind’s sin in Genesis 3:15, God gave hope … through Noah and his family, mankind would find salvation and ultimately restoration. God is not willing to let sin fully separate us from Him. Like the old chorus says … “He will make a way, where there seems to be no way.”

How Can I Apply this Passage to my Life?

• I don’t know what afflicts your life. I don’t know how often you look at your sin and your mistakes and think there is no way God can love you or even have a purpose for you. But that is not how God looks at you. Even though He detested man’s sin, He still protected Cain, and He still saved mankind through Noah. He loves you so much that He has a plan and desire for your life, we just have to remind ourselves of that each day.