Genesis Notes p.4

KINGDOM DYNAMICS
Gen. 3:17 The important role of humanity in earthly affairs, HUMAN WORTH. From the perspective of his strategic role, we should assume that man is more valuable than any other thing on earth. No other form of earthly life occupies such an important cosmic role as mankind. Literally, the earth is sustained or falls by human actions. Only humans have the power to exhaust the earth's resources and pollute the atmosphere. The sin of a human being, Adam, corrupted the world. The continual sinfulness of humanity caused the Flood (6:12,13). In contrast, Jesus Christ's obedience brought justification and righteousness to many (Rom. 5:18,19). If redeemed men and women walk in this justification and righteousness, can't the world be made to flourish? God desires to reveal his truth and beauty to the world only by means of redeemed mankind. Each believer has a strategic importance in his own sphere; we should all try to add to the contribution of good and encourage others to do the same. (Psa. 8:4-8/Gen. 9:5,6) C.B.

KINGDOM DYNAMICS

Gen. 3:17 The important role of humanity in earthly affairs, HUMAN WORTH. From the perspective of his strategic role, we should assume that man is more valuable than any other thing on earth. No other form of earthly life occupies such an important cosmic role as mankind. Literally, the earth is sustained or falls by human actions. Only humans have the power to exhaust the earth's resources and pollute the atmosphere. The sin of a human being, Adam, corrupted the world. The continual sinfulness of humanity caused the Flood (6:12,13). In contrast, Jesus Christ's obedience brought justification and righteousness to many (Rom. 5:18,19). If redeemed men and women walk in this justification and righteousness, can't the world be made to flourish? God desires to reveal his truth and beauty to the world only by means of redeemed mankind. Each believer has a strategic importance in his own sphere; we should all try to add to the contribution of good and encourage others to do the same. (Psa. 8:4-8/Gen. 9:5,6) C.B.

Gen. 3:17-19 Neither is Adam directly cursed. His worst error was obeying the voice of the woman in place of God's voice. Since he had the greatest responsibility, his condemnation is the broadest and more comprehensive. In labor you shall eat of it: stresses man's fundamental role as laborer and provider; the work will be filled with difficulties and disappointments. It shall produce thorns and thistles...with the sweat of your face. This struggle of every life will end with death.

KINGDOM DYNAMICS
Gen. 3:21 The covering blood, THE BLOOD. GOD's covenant of love requires that innocent animals be sacrificed to provide clothes of skin for Eve and Adam. This early figure of the substitutive propitiation signals the necessity of justice against the innocent, in order to provide cover for the guilty. Adam and Eve made a vain attempt to cover themselves using their own efforts, by making clothes of fig leaves. However, God's order provided covering through the sacrifice. Under the new covenant, it is required that we clothe ourselves with Christ rather than our own works (Gal. 3:27). (Heb. 9:12/Matt. 26:28) C.S.

KINGDOM DYNAMICS

Gen. 3:21 The covering blood, THE BLOOD. GOD's covenant of love requires that innocent animals be sacrificed to provide clothes of skin for Eve and Adam. This early figure of the substitutive propitiation signals the necessity of justice against the innocent, in order to provide cover for the guilty. Adam and Eve made a vain attempt to cover themselves using their own efforts, by making clothes of fig leaves. However, God's order provided covering through the sacrifice. Under the new covenant, it is required that we clothe ourselves with Christ rather than our own works (Gal. 3:27). (Heb. 9:12/Matt. 26:28) C.S.

KINGDOM DYNAMICS
Gen. 3:21 Restoration "In the beginning", RESTORATION. Genesis 1 - 3 reveals God's restoring ways "in the beginning". The concept of the "Holy Spirit and restoration" is explained in the article of the same name by James Robison. (Job 42:10-12/Gen. 6:5) J.R.

KINGDOM DYNAMICS

Gen. 3:21 Restoration "In the beginning", RESTORATION. Genesis 1 - 3 reveals God's restoring ways "in the beginning". The concept of the "Holy Spirit and restoration" is explained in the article of the same name by James Robison. (Job 42:10-12/Gen. 6:5) J.R.

KINGDOM DYNAMICS
Gen. 3:16-24 Result of the Fall, KINGDOM BASICS. Because of disobedience of God's terms of delegated authority, humans "fell", and thus lost the power to rule creation (verses 22,23): All that fell within his jurisdiction (the earth) fell under the curse while his relationship with God, the essential source of his authority to rule, was cut off (verses 17,18). Therefore, mankind lost essential vitalizing power to rule God's kingdom (verses 19,22). Beyond the tragedy of the human loss, two other acts took place. First, because of his disobedience to God and submission to the serpent's suggestions, the human governorship was confiscated and given to the serpent. In Rev. 12:9 it is confirmed that the spirit who used the serpent's form was Satan himself. The dominion, originally delegated to mankind, now fell upon Satan, who became administrator of this cursed world. The "seed" and the "head" of the serpent indicate a continual lineage (seed) of evil that extended the governorship of Satan (head) (verse 15). However, a second act offered hope. In the midst of the tragedy of this sequence of events, God begins to redeem human beings and promises them a plan to recover that which mankind lost (verse 15). This is initiated with the first sacrifice (verse 21). (Gen. 1:31/Gen. 8:20-9:17) J.W.H.

KINGDOM DYNAMICS

Gen. 3:16-24 Result of the Fall, KINGDOM BASICS. Because of disobedience of God's terms of delegated authority, humans "fell", and thus lost the power to rule creation (verses 22,23): All that fell within his jurisdiction (the earth) fell under the curse while his relationship with God, the essential source of his authority to rule, was cut off (verses 17,18). Therefore, mankind lost essential vitalizing power to rule God's kingdom (verses 19,22). Beyond the tragedy of the human loss, two other acts took place. First, because of his disobedience to God and submission to the serpent's suggestions, the human governorship was confiscated and given to the serpent. In Rev. 12:9 it is confirmed that the spirit who used the serpent's form was Satan himself. The dominion, originally delegated to mankind, now fell upon Satan, who became administrator of this cursed world. The "seed" and the "head" of the serpent indicate a continual lineage (seed) of evil that extended the governorship of Satan (head) (verse 15). However, a second act offered hope. In the midst of the tragedy of this sequence of events, God begins to redeem human beings and promises them a plan to recover that which mankind lost (verse 15). This is initiated with the first sacrifice (verse 21). (Gen. 1:31/Gen. 8:20-9:17) J.W.H.

KINGDOM DYNAMICS
Gen. 3:24 the Cherubims, ANGELS. The cherubims were created beings, to whom the protection of God's throne has been assigned (Psa. 99:1), as well as the protection of the ark of the covenant and the mercy seat (Exod. 25:18-22; 37:7-9). The cherubims protected the Tree of Life, so that human beings couldn't eat of it, and thus live in their sins forever. Therefore, contrary to popular opinion, more than an angel protected the entrance to Eden. The most detailed description of the cherubims is encountered in Eze. 10, where they are strictly associated with God's glory and form part of the heavenly host. (Is. 6:2/Jude 9) M.H.

KINGDOM DYNAMICS

Gen. 3:24 the Cherubims, ANGELS. The cherubims were created beings, to whom the protection of God's throne has been assigned (Psa. 99:1), as well as the protection of the ark of the covenant and the mercy seat (Exod. 25:18-22; 37:7-9). The cherubims protected the Tree of Life, so that human beings couldn't eat of it, and thus live in their sins forever. Therefore, contrary to popular opinion, more than an angel protected the entrance to Eden. The most detailed description of the cherubims is encountered in Eze. 10, where they are strictly associated with God's glory and form part of the heavenly host. (Is. 6:2/Jude 9) M.H.

KINGDOM DYNAMICS
Gen. 4:1-10 The blood, something essential to be right before God, THE BLOOD. The subject of blood-sacrifices, as an essential part of our position before God, is presented by means of Cain and Abel's sacrifices. In accord with the fundamental lesson that God offered regarding Adam and Eve's sin (3:21), Cain's vegetable offering was rejected in the same way as was Adam's intent to use fig leaves to cover himself. But Abel's offering, a sacrifice of blood, pleased God. The animal sacrifice in the garden on God's part had established the principle of blood as the way to approach him. It remained in evidence that to adopt a proper attitude before God, the maker of covenants, was a matter of life or death, and not something that would merely depend on human abilities. (Exod. 12:13/Is.1:11) C.S.

KINGDOM DYNAMICS

Gen. 4:1-10 The blood, something essential to be right before God, THE BLOOD. The subject of blood-sacrifices, as an essential part of our position before God, is presented by means of Cain and Abel's sacrifices. In accord with the fundamental lesson that God offered regarding Adam and Eve's sin (3:21), Cain's vegetable offering was rejected in the same way as was Adam's intent to use fig leaves to cover himself. But Abel's offering, a sacrifice of blood, pleased God. The animal sacrifice in the garden on God's part had established the principle of blood as the way to approach him. It remained in evidence that to adopt a proper attitude before God, the maker of covenants, was a matter of life or death, and not something that would merely depend on human abilities. (Exod. 12:13/Is.1:11) C.S.

Gen. 4:5 Most probably, GOD didn't look agreeably on Cain because he offered something of little worth; "of the fruit of the ground an offering" (verse 3), while Abel brought "of the firstborn of his sheep" (verse 4).

Gen. 4:7 Sin is at the door: Ducked or hid behind the door. These words literally personify sin as if a demon was crouched down, a kind of wild species at Cain's door.

Gen. 4:8 Cain didn't think of repentance, but only of vengeance.

KINGDOM DYNAMICS
Gen. 4:9 Responsibility for each other, BROTHERLY LOVE. The theme of brotherhood emerges early in the Scripture, and it is clear from the beginning that God grants importance to fraternal relations. In this passage, the subject of responsibility for each other appears for the first time. Cain questions, "Am I, perhaps, my brother's protector?' The word used for "protect" (from the Hebrew shamar) means "to protect, watch, attend or consider. "Am I perhaps responsible. "Certainly", is God's response. We are not only guardians of our brothers and sisters, but we will be called to account for our treatment of our (physical and spiritual) brothers and sisters. Owing to Cain's sins against his brother, God curses him, halts his ability to cultivate and sentences him to a fugitive and vagabond life (verse 12). This clearly indicates that fraternal disharmony destines us to sterility and the frustration of our purposes. (*/Gen. 45:4) D.S.

KINGDOM DYNAMICS

Gen. 4:9 Responsibility for each other, BROTHERLY LOVE. The theme of brotherhood emerges early in the Scripture, and it is clear from the beginning that God grants importance to fraternal relations. In this passage, the subject of responsibility for each other appears for the first time. Cain questions, "Am I, perhaps, my brother's protector?' The word used for "protect" (from the Hebrew shamar) means "to protect, watch, attend or consider. "Am I perhaps responsible. "Certainly", is God's response. We are not only guardians of our brothers and sisters, but we will be called to account for our treatment of our (physical and spiritual) brothers and sisters.

Owing to Cain's sins against his brother, God curses him, halts his ability to cultivate and sentences him to a fugitive and vagabond life (verse 12). This clearly indicates that fraternal disharmony destines us to sterility and the frustration of our purposes. (*/Gen. 45:4) D.S.

Gen. 4:10 What have you done? As in the previous chapter, God knew what had occurred, but demanded a response. "The life...is in the blood" (Lev. 17:11; Whoever granted that life can her its cry (see Job 16:18; Is. 26:21; Eze. 24:7,8; Matt. 23:25; Rev. 6:10)

4:11-15 the mark of Cain is unidentifiable, since his descendants perished in the Flood. The mark wasn't a stigma, but something that would protect Cain, and demonstrate God's incredible love, even for impenitent sinners.

Gen. 4:16,17 A city: In the Bible, even villages are called cities.

Gen. 4:17-5:32 The Blessing of Dominion and the Curse of Sin (HBH) Cain's genealogy illustrates the tension between GOD's blessing and spreading sin. Through the achievements of Cain's descendants, humanity began to experience the blessing of dominion over creation. Progress in the arts and technology was, however, matched by progress in sin as illustrated in Lamech's boastful song of murder (4:23-24).

Meanwhile, GOD's redemptive, creation mandate continued through another son of Adam and Eve - Seth (4:25-26). His genealogy (5:1-32) led straight to Noah, to whom the original creation promises were reaffirmed (6:18; 9:1-7).

Gen. 4:20-22 The three sons of Lamech were pioneers, each one in his own specialty. Tubal-cain developed the manufacturing of iron, an ability such that the Scripture, as well as archaeology has shown that was lost for centuries after the Flood (until approximately 1500 B.C.).

Gen. 4:23,24 This poem irreverently demonstrates that sin progresses rapidly. Lamech's depravity surpasses that of Cain when he brags of killing a youth merely for having struck him.

KINGDOM DYNAMICS
Gen. 4:25 The first woman as instrument of redemption: Eve. WOMEN. The Bible reveals that God created man and woman, and that all mankind descends from this first pair. Although Eve was deceived by the serpent, as well as the first to violate the divine regulations (2:16,17; 3:6), the Word of God holds Adam responsible for knowingly moving away from God. (Rom. 5:12,17; I Tim. 2:14). That's not to say that the woman was less intelligent or more vulnerable to deception that the man, but that under the circumstances, in the things concerning the fall of mankind, the deceiving of the woman proceeded the active disobedience of the man. The fact that God, in his mercy and through his first promise, should have chosen a Messiah-Liberator, seed of the woman, in order to realize this work, is an exceptional demonstration of his grace. Subsequently, the first person to become an instrument of God's redemptive work. The birth of Seth, the "seed" given to replace the assassinated Abel, was the first in the "lineage" that would extend to the birth of Jesus Christ. Eve's distinctive place in the fall of the first pair becomes ground where God's mercy plants the first seed of the promise. The message is obvious: God is capable of making his superabundant grace reach any one of us. No matter how deep the error, Eve's testimony declares that God's grace goes much farther. (*/Gen. 16:1) F.L./J.W.H.

KINGDOM DYNAMICS

Gen. 4:25 The first woman as instrument of redemption: Eve. WOMEN. The Bible reveals that God created man and woman, and that all mankind descends from this first pair. Although Eve was deceived by the serpent, as well as the first to violate the divine regulations (2:16,17; 3:6), the Word of God holds Adam responsible for knowingly moving away from God. (Rom. 5:12,17; I Tim. 2:14). That's not to say that the woman was less intelligent or more vulnerable to deception that the man, but that under the circumstances, in the things concerning the fall of mankind, the deceiving of the woman proceeded the active disobedience of the man.

The fact that God, in his mercy and through his first promise, should have chosen a Messiah-Liberator, seed of the woman, in order to realize this work, is an exceptional demonstration of his grace. Subsequently, the first person to become an instrument of God's redemptive work.

The birth of Seth, the "seed" given to replace the assassinated Abel, was the first in the "lineage" that would extend to the birth of Jesus Christ. Eve's distinctive place in the fall of the first pair becomes ground where God's mercy plants the first seed of the promise. The message is obvious: God is capable of making his superabundant grace reach any one of us. No matter how deep the error, Eve's testimony declares that God's grace goes much farther. (*/Gen. 16:1) F.L./J.W.H.

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