Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Noah

Genesis 5 documents the genealogy from Adam to Noah.  Noah was Adam's great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandson.  From Adam to Noah there are ten generations.

Please note that the men listed below had many children.  However, we are following particular lines in the history of mankind.

Adam, at age 130 years, bore Seth.  Adam died at age 930 years old.

Seth bore Enos at age 185 years, and died at age 912.

Enos bore Cainan at age 90 years, and died at age 840.

Cainan bore Mahalaleel at age 70, and died at age 910.

Mahalaleel bore Jared at age 65, and died at age 895.

Jared bore Enoch at age 62, and died at age 962.

Enoch bore Methuselah at age 65 years, and then walked with God (no indication that he died) after 365 years.

Methuselah bore Lamech at age 187 years, and died at age 969.

Lamech bore Noah at age 182, and died at age 777.

By the time Noah came along, Man had become extremely evil and violent, to the point where God had had enough.  He decided to destroy Mankind in 120 years' time.

Genesis 6:2 speaks of the sons of God marrying the daughters of men.  Many people interpret this to mean that angels came down to Earth to marry women.  That is not so.  For one thing, Jesus Himself said that there is no marrying nor giving into marriage in Heaven.  There has been no indication throughout the entire Bible that angels have ever been interested in having physical relationships with Man.  There is also the observation that Man was created "a little less" than angels.  So, to what does Genesis 6 refer?

Remember that according to Gill's commentary of the Bible, based on Arabic writings: in Enos' days men started to call themselves sons of God and started to worship in God's Name.  The commentary speaks of a separation between Seth's family and Cain's family, after Adam's death.  It states that Seth and his family moved to the mountains, where they were closer to God, and where they took on holiness; whereas Cain and his family remained in the valley where Abel had been killed.  (Biblos.com, 2011)

So, Seth's offsprings saw the women in the valley, and desired them; and married them.

It appears that there is also a spiritual connotation to the statement.  There was a joining of different principles.  Seth's offsprings appeared to be spiritual and holy; whereas Cain's offspring were more sensual, worldly, and carnal.

This obviously displeased God, who determined that His Spirit could not strive in an evil environment.  The desires of Man was carnal, easily rejecting holiness.  And God recognised this trait that was emerging within Man.   In the battle between carnal and spiritual, Man easily chose the desires of the flesh.

Could the repercussion to Man's behaviour be a reduction in his life line - that Man would start dying at a much younger age than those from Adam to Lamech.  Is this what God meant, when He said that the days of Man should be 120 years?  No, it isn't.

Barne's commentary speaks of a spiritual message within God's declaration that the days of Man should be 120 years.  It speaks of God's decision to allow 120 years to pass, before executing judgement on sinful Man.

So God looks around and sees Noah.  Here's what the Bible says about Noah:
Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord ... Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations.  And Noah walked with God. Genesis 6: 8, 9
So God speaks to Noah about the wickedness that was filling the Earth, and of His decision to destroy Mankind.

Now, this gets pretty interesting.  Let's assume we were sitting around when God came to speak with Noah.

God says to Noah, "Build an ark."  And Noah probably asked, "What's an ark?"  And God probably said something like, "Well, Noah ... an ark is a very big boat."  To which Noah would likely ask, "What's a boat?"  God would explain that a boat is a vessel that floats on water.  And Noah would probably say, "Ahh!" but still not understanding.

Then God probably said something like, "I'm going to send a flood to destroy the Earth."  And Noah probably asked, "What's a flood?" to which God would explain that He would send rain ("What's rain?").

But God had made a provision to save life.  The ark would be large enough to transport a pair of every living creature, food for them all, and space for Noah and his family.

So, Noah listened to God and started to build this really big boat.

Can you imagine the ridicule that Noah must have endured for the decades that it took him and his sons to build the ark?

Perhaps in the early days man may have been fearful of God's judgment.  But as time passed and no rain happened and no flood happened, they must have ridiculed the "crazy" man and his family daily.  Noah worked on the ark for many years.  To everyone else, he was totally mad.

As the song says,
 and http://bible.cc/genesis/9-27.htm
They thought he was a man possessed, a maniac at best
Building an ark fifty feet tall, In a land where rain had yet to fall
Going on about a flood, the whole world turned to mud
Poor old fool, something went wrong, Working in the summer sun a bit too long
They said,

Noah, oh where you gonna go in the middle of the desert in a giant boat?
Noah, oh open up your ears, it's never gonna happen in a hundred years
No matter what you say, Noah, no way!
So, God commanded Noah to take seven of every clean animal and two of every unclean animal into the ark.  And at the time for entering the ark, the animals and birds and beasts and creepy crawlies all presented themselves and entered the ark.

It is important to note that there were more clean animals, birds, and beasts, than unclean.  One of each was intended as a sacrifice to God, and the others were intended to reproduce and replenish the earth.

So the flood occurred.  It rained for forty days and forty nights, and the entire Earth was covered all the way up past the mountains.  Scripture clearly stated that every creature (man, beast, cattle, birds, or creepy crawlies) that had life in them were destroyed in the flood.  All except Noah and his family - eight people saved with the creatures that were safe in the ark.

The waters remained on the Earth for 150 days, before it dissipated.  So, it rained for five months.  For another three months, the water started to reduce.  Forty days after he had seen the tops of mountains, Noah sent out a raven and a dove to see if they would find places of rest, but there wasn't any.  Seven days later, he sent out a dove, who returned with an olive leaf.  Seven days afterward, he sent the dove out again, but this time it did not return.

A year after Noah had gone into the ark, God told him that it was safe for him, his family, and all the animals that were in the ark to leave the ark.

When Noah disembarked from the ark, he made an altar, took one of every clean beast and bird, and worshipped God by offering up sacrficies to God.

God determined that the thoughts of Man are evil from his youth, and decided to no longer curse the ground or destroy every living thing because of Man's evil ways.

God then gave a commandment that was identical to the one He had given to Adam: "Be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the Earth."

In Genesis 9 we find God saying something very interesting to Noah and his family: every beast, bird, creepy crawly, and fish had now developed a fear of Man.  Not only that, Man could now eat these animals, birds, and fish - except those that still had life in them.

God also reiterated something that He had said to Cain: any beast or man who killed a man, God would require judgement for that smitten man because Man was created in God's own image.

He then made a covenant with Noah and his sons and with every beast, bird, cattle and all other living things that He would never again destroy all living things by a flood.  So He placed a rainbow in the skies as a reminder to never again destroy all flesh by a flood.

After the flood, Noah became a farmer.  He planted a vineyard and, a few years later, drank wine, and became drunk.  This may have happened as a result of the richness of the soil after the flood.  It could also have been that Noah may not have had wine before, and so this new drink was intoxicating to him.  Another possibility could be Noah's age.  He was more than 600 years old, when he exited the ark.  Even if he had had wine before, it may have been a bit strong for this much older man, resulting in intoxication.  And the account of the events indicate that this incident happened many years later.

In any case, Noah was sleeping naked in his tent when his younger son, Ham, went in, saw that he was naked, and told his brothers that he was naked in his tent.  The older and youngest son backed into Noah's tent and covered their father.

When Noah awoke, he knew that Ham had dishonoured him and he prophesied a curse on Canaan, and pronounced blessings on Shem and Japheth.

Now that was interesting.  Why did Noah curse Canaan, and not Ham?  Is it possible that it had been Canaan, Ham's son, who had first seen Noah naked and told his father?  That is the assumption that we are following here, since it is peculiar that Noah should immediately curse his grandson, Canaan, not his son, Ham; and utter blessings on his other two sons, Shem and Japheth.  that would make sense if this incident actually originated with Canaan.

Matthew Henry's commentary interpreted Noah's curse on Canaan:
Genesis 9:25: he said, "Cursed be Canaan! The lowest of slaves will he be to his brothers." NIV
by speaking of the enslavement of blacks from Africa.  Of Noah's blessing of Shem, Henry speaks of the blessings on Shem's descendants, the Jewish people.  Of Noahs's blessing of Japheth, Henry speaks of blessings to Japheth's descendants, the Gentiles.

Noah lived for 350 years after the flood, and died at age 950 years.
Reference:

Biblos.com, 2011.  Retrieved August 7, 2011 from http://bible.cc/genesis/6-2.htm and http://bible.cc/genesis/9-27.htm

Sunday, August 7, 2011

An Offering of Faith

A friend challenged something I wrote on the First Murder (last post).

He said that Cain killed Abel over worship.

That is true.

In Genesis 3, after Adam and Eve sinned, God sacrificed animals to create coverings from skin for Adam and Eve.  The coats would provide better covering than the flimsy ones that Adam and Eve had created for themselves.  They were durable and covered the nakedness that sin had brought to Man.

The fig coverings that Adam and Eve made were inadequate covering for them.  So is it when we try, by our works or our assumptions of righteousness, to cover our sins.  Salvation from sin is by the Grace of God.  It is not by works, least any should boast.  There is nothing that we can do of and by ourselves that would redeem us from sins.  All our good work profits us nothing.  And our righteousness is like filthy rags before God.

Did God give instructions regarding atonement for sin to Adam and Eve?  That is not recorded, and therefore, though likely, it can be assumed that He may not have provided instructions.

So, Adam and Eve departed from Eden, and started their family.  They gave birth to Cain and Abel.

Perhaps they saw Cain as their hope of salvation from God, based on God's pronouncement that Eve's seed would crush the head of the serpent.  Cain's name means "acquired", which was what Eve said: "I have gotten a man from the Lord".  Abel's name means "breath".  (Campbell, 2011)

Then something interesting happens.  The two sons brought offerings to God.

Cain and Abel demonstrated worship of God differently.  Cain brought a vegetable offering, and Abel brought an offering of the first and best of his flock.  These were the offerings they were presenting to God.  And it appears that they brought their offerings to an appointed place.  It could be that they saw Adam worshipping at this place, but there is no account of this.  It is likely that this place could have been at or near the guarded gate of Eden.  Again, though, there is no account of where this act of worship took place.

Genesis 4 records the beginning of sacrifice.

Genesis 4:4
Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering
Hebrews 11:4
It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel's offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith.  NIV
Barnes' commentary demonstrates the difference between the two offerings to God.  One was a "presentation of things without life, the other a sacrifice of life".  Vegetation, versus a creature in which there had been life.  1 John 3: 12 refers to Abel as being righteous, but Cain as being a worker of evil.

Sin had introduced death to the paradise that Man had enjoyed.  It was now to be through the shedding of blood that redemption would come to Mankind.

Abel was humble and contrite as he presented his offering to God - an offering that required the shedding of blood as an atonement for sin.  Paul called it an offering of faith that was more acceptable than Cain's offering.

Cain reaped his harvest and decided to present an offering to God.  He took of his plants, fruits, and seeds, and brought these as an offering to God.  It was likely an abundant offering, and he was possibly quite pleased with himself for the greatness of what he brought to God.

However, Abel came in his sinful state with an offering that was humble and sincere and that he hoped would provide payment for his sinful state - the shedding of blood, the exchange of life (that mirrors Jesus taking our place and dying in our place to atone for our sin), the desire for mercy from a mighty God.  God saw the intent of their hearts and the sincerity of their offerings, and He was very pleased with Abel's offering - thus accepting it.

Cain became angry as a result of the pride of his heart.  But God gave him opportunities to examine himself, and do what was right.

The commentators agree that God's admonition in Genesis 4: 7 - "sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it" refer to the relationship between Cain and Abel.  According to the commentators, Cain's place as first born and his birthright are not being usurped by Abel, and so there was no reason for Cain to be angry at or jealous of Abel.  (Biblos.com)

Instead of Cain examining himself, making amends to God, and bringing an acceptable offering to God, he went out into the field with his brother, engaged him in an argument, and then killed him.  And when God asked him about his brother, he expressed contempt for his brother when he asked, "Am I my brother's keeper?"  The rest of the story, we know.

Abel made an offering of faith to God.  He approached God sincerely, with his heart attuned to Him.  It was an offering of love.  It was an act of worship.  And God accepted the offering.

When we approach God, we must be sincere and contrite and provide the acceptable offering.  According to Romans 12:1, spiritual worship involves living sacrifices that are holy and pleasing to God.  That was the difference between Abel's offering and Cain's.

Reference:

Behind the Name, 2011.  The etymology and history of first names.  Retrieved August 7, 2011 from http://www.behindthename.com/name/abel

Biblos.com, 2011.  Genesis 4:7.  Retrieved August 7, 2011 from http://bible.cc/genesis/4-7.htm

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

First Murder

Genesis 4 documents the first murder.

Two of Adam's and Eve's children, Cain and Abel, brought an offering to God.  Cain was a farmer and brought his offering from his harvest, but Abel, a shepherd, brought the best of the first born of his flock.

God accepted Abel's offering and rejected Cain's offering, which made Cain very upset, to the point where God spoke to him and gave him a warning:
7 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. KJV

What does that mean?

The NIV says, "If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."

This brings question to Cain's offering.  God is saying that Cain had done something wrong.  Is it possible that although he brought of his harvest, it was not the best and it was not of the first of his harvest?

There are times when we bring our offering to the Lord, but how many times do we bring what is left over after?  How many times do we give to the Lord as an afterthought?

Malachi 3:8 asks a question:
Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, 'How have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings.  New American Standard
Leviticus 27: 30 clarifies: And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD's: it is holy unto the LORD.

Cain had brought an offering of the fruit of the ground.  There is no indication that it was the best of the fruit.  There is no mention that he brought of the seed to God.  God rejected this offering.

When we look at Leviticus 1 - 9, we see where God requires the first - the best of the flock or cattle - as offerings.  The required flock had nothing wrong with them.  They were the fattest and best of the flock or of the cattle.  That was what God required.

Abel's offering to God was of the first born - the best -  the fattest.  That was what he had offered up to God.  And that was what God accepted.

So we next see that Cain spoke to his brother Abel, and became so angry that he killed his brother.

We have God asking a question,
9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?
 The All-Knowing God knew what had happened, before he asked Cain.  He had already warned Cain that sin was lurking close by and told him to master sin.  Yet Cain had fallen to sin.  Then he became flippant toward God when he asked if he was his brother's keeper.

God responds in verse 10,
But the LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground!" (New Living Translation)

God brings Cain face to face with what he had done.  He charged him immediately with the crime that he had committed.  Not only that, He said something very important: "Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground!"

God is saying that blood is alive, that it speaks, and that He has to listen to the voice of blood.

In Genesis 9: 4 - 6, God speaks of life in the blood.  Not only that, He required a punishment to every man or every beast who killed a human being.  He gave a reason: He had created Man in His own image.

Man was special to God.  He had been made with loving care in God's own image.  The life that God created, the living soul He had created, is to be protected and held in honour.  Killing a man is like attempting to destroy God, who had used His own image to create Man.

Back in Genesis 4: 11 - 12, God put a curse on Cain that resulted in the ground becoming hard and unyielding because of Abel's blood that had flown into the ground.  He declared Cain to be a fugitive and a vagabond.

According to Dictionary.com, this meant that Cain was like an outlaw - someone fleeing prosecution - and a shiftless nomad, moving from place to place, unable to settle down.

Cain exiled himself from God (verse 14) and declared that anyone who found him should kill him.  However, God countered that declaration by saying that anyone who killed Cain, He would take vengeance against that person.  To protect Cain, He marked Cain so that anyone who found him would recognise the mark, realise that God's protection was on him, and would not kill him.

There was no indication what the mark was.  In that era, however, it would have been an easily recognisable mark that set Cain apart from all other men.

So, Cain and his wife left and built a city to the east of the Garden of Eden.  We then see in verse 23 that his great-great-great grandson, Lamech, confessed to killing two men.  However, he declares, anyone seeking revenge against him for the death of the two men would be avenged by God, thus hiding under God's protection.
26 And Seth had a son, and he gave him the name of Enosh: at this time men first made use of the name of the Lord in worship.  Bible in Basic English
Another first.  According to Barnes' Notes on the Bible, this is the first time that Man initiated a conversation with God and also the first time that Man used the Name of God in prayer and in worship.

Clarke's Commentary of the Bible indicates that Man started swearing, using God's Name, in the days of Enos.  It also indicates that men began worshiping idols in Enos' days.

Both Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible and Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary of the Old Testament referred to Enos as being "weak, feeble, and frail".  Other commentaries stated that it was at this time that Man started to call himself "son of God".

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary interpreted verse 26 to mean that Man began to publicly protest against the wickedness of the world around them as He worshiped God.

Reference:

Biblos.com