Genesis 4

Why was Abel’s offering accepted and Cain’s wasn’t? Many have speculated, but the indication in the text is that Able gave his best (“the firstborn”) while Cain simply gave “an offering.” We also have an explanation in the New Testament:

Hebrews 11:4 “By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous, God testifying with respect to his gifts; and through it he, being dead, still speaks” (WEB).

Without faith and a desire to follow God it’s very easy to let ourselves be driven by emotions. Pride, hatred, and deception can even lead to murder. Once we let sin rule us, we end up being guided by it rather than God. And the escalation in sin brings a more severe punishment. Murder brings expulsion from the community, but with grace. Cain has a mark of identification and protection, even though he is still unrepentant.

Cain marries (apparently a sister), and the text lists his descendants and their accomplishments. Although we are not destined to follow in the steps of our ancestors, genetics and examples still have profound effects on us. Generations later we find Lamech engaging in bigamy, vengeance, and murder. He is the one who reminds us of his ancestry, and his arrogance claims an even greater divine protection than Cain had!

Adam and Eve have another son, Seth, who is a forefather of the Messiah (Luke 3:38). In fact, it’s from his birth onward that worship seems to take on a more public and corporate expression.

Genesis 4:26 “A son was also born to Seth, and he named him Enosh. At that time men began to call on the LORD’s name” (WEB).

Thought for the day: How can we subdue sin in our lives?

2 Timothy 2:22 “Flee from youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

Genesis 3

In chapter 3 we see the beginning of sin: God gave a command that was disobeyed by both Eve and Adam, with the serpent egging them on. The serpent is being influenced by Satan, which gives us insight into how Satan works: he is a deceiver.

Revelation 12:9 “The great dragon was thrown down, the old serpent, he who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.”

As a result, the entire creation is cursed. Since Adam is our representative, we are cursed too: “For since death came by man, the resurrection of the dead also came by man. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:21-22).

Thankfully though, we also see the beginning of salvation: “I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel.” This is thought by many to be the first reference to the gospel in the Bible.

Thought for the day: Satan used doubt and desire to tempt mankind. There is a difference between godly desire and earthly desire. Is there always a false promise associated with our earthly desire?

Colossians 3:1-2 “If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth.”

Genesis 2

Here we see the beginning of marriage: a man and a woman are given to one another as helpers, with monogamy made explicit (one flesh). They existed in a state of innocence and shamelessness (they were naked and not afraid). We later see marriage described as foreshadowing the relationship between Christ and the church.

Ephesians 5:31-32 ” ‘For this cause a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife. Then the two will become one flesh.’ This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and the assembly.” (WEB)

Since most conservative scholars believe that Moses wrote the Torah (the first 5 books of the Bible), how did that come to pass? Was it all supernaturally revealed to Him, or did He have something already written down that was approved by God? We may have some hints throughout Genesis. For example:

Genesis 2:4 “This is the history of the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.” (WEB)

That phrase is used 10 times in Genesis, and many believe that these indications reveal that the different sections of Genesis were preserved and Moses was used by God to compile the full account.

Thought for the day: If the relationship between Christ and the church reveals something about how marriage was supposed to be at the very beginning, what does that teach us about marriage today?

Ephesians 5:33 “Nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” (WEB)

Genesis 1

We get the name of this book from the Greek title, “Genesis,” which means “origin.“ The Hebrew title comes from the first word, “in the beginning.” Genesis is a book about origins or beginnings. In the first three chapter we see the beginning of the heavens and the earth, the beginning of humanity, the beginning of marriage, the beginning of sin, and the beginning of salvation.

The beginning of the heavens and the earth: we see the realms (light, sky/water, land/sea), and the inhabitants of those realms (sun/moon/stars, fish/birds, animals/humanity). Notice that the text says that God made a larger light to rule the day, and a smaller light to rule the night. Why not name the sun and moon? Perhaps because they were frequently worshiped by other cultures. Here God is superior to any lights in the sky because He made them!

The beginning of humanity: mankind is the pinnacle of God’s creation (we are to reign over the rest of it). We are distinct from the rest of creation, since we are made in God’s image. Although male and female are created in chapter one, a fuller account is given in chapter two.

Thought for the day: Since God is our creator, what do we owe Him?

Matthew 22:37 “Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ “ (WEB, International)

Psalm 150:1-6 “Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary! Praise him in his heavens for his acts of power! Praise him for his mighty acts! Praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet! Praise him with harp and lyre! Praise him with tambourine and dancing! Praise him with stringed instruments and flute! Praise him with loud cymbals! Praise him with resounding cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!”

Historically there have been five recognized sections within the book of Psalms: 1-41, 42-72, 73-89, 90-106, and 107-150. Many have thought that they were divided this way to reflect the Torah, the first five books of the Bible. Each section ends with a short doxology, with Psalm 150 forming the final doxology. Psalms 146-150 seem to form a fitting conclusion to the entire book of Psalms with their emphasis on praise. It should be noticed that praise isn’t simply relegated to voices, but also to instruments and even dancing. And praise isn’t always quiet and meditative. It can also be loud! The main point is to praise God for who He is and what He has done.

For additional worship: Psalm 150 (Praise the Lord) – Keith & Kristyn Getty

Psalm 149:1-9 “Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the saints. Let Israel rejoice in him who made them. Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise his name in the dance! Let them sing praises to him with tambourine and harp! For the LORD takes pleasure in his people. He crowns the humble with salvation. Let the saints rejoice in honor. Let them sing for joy on their beds. May the high praises of God be in their mouths, and a two-edged sword in their hand, to execute vengeance on the nations, and punishments on the peoples; to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; to execute on them the written judgement. All his saints have this honor. Praise the LORD!”

God chose Israel, took pleasure in them, gave them salvation, and enabled them to execute judgment on His (and their) enemies.

God also chose us in Christ, and we’ll see His victory over the rebellious nations, as well as be given a part to play in His future kingdom.

Revelation 11:15-18 “Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.’ And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, ‘We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign. The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.’ ”

Revelation 2:26-27 “The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.”

It’s no wonder that we’re called upon to sing, dance, play, and praise His name!

For additional worship: Psalm 149 (He Adorns The Humble With Salvation)

Psalm 148:7-14 “Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures, and all depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy wind, fulfilling his word, mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all livestock, small creatures and flying birds, kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all judges of the earth, both young men and maidens, old men and children. Let them praise the LORD’s name, for his name alone is exalted. His glory is above the earth and the heavens. He has lifted up the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints, even of the children of Israel, a people near to him. Praise the LORD!”

Not only has God created, He has also given His people power and strength (“lifted up the horn of his people”) through their relationship with Him. How do we have a relationship with Him? How do we obtain power and strength to live? Through Jesus Christ!

Exodus 15:2 “The LORD is my strength and song. He has become by salvation.”

Psalm 27:1 “The LORD is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?”

Psalm 28:7 “The LORD is my strength and my shield. My heart has trusted in him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart greatly rejoices. With my song I will thank him.”

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

For additional worship: Psalm 148 (Highly Exalted)

Psalm 148:1-6 “Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens! Praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels! Praise him, all his army! Praise him, sun and moon! Praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you heavens of heavens, you waters that are above the heavens. Let them praise the LORD’s name, for he commanded, and they were created. He has also established them forever and ever. He has made a decree which will not pass away.”

But what about the new heavens and the new earth? Won’t the old be dissolved? Yes, but never really destroyed. Energy is never destroyed, just transferred and transformed. Everything that God has made will remain, in one form or another. He is CREATOR, and His creation should praise and attest to His greatness.

Luke 19:37-40 “As he was now getting near, at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works which they had seen, saying, ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest!’ Some of the Pharisees from the multitude said to him, ‘Teacher, rebuke your disciples!’ He answered them, ‘I tell you that if these were silent, the stones would cry out.’ ”

Scripture also reminds us that the weight of sin can cause creation to cry out in pain rather than praise.

Mark 15:33 “When the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.”

Romans 8:20-22 “For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of decay into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.”

For additional worship: Praise His Name (Sovereign Grace)

Psalm 147:12-20 “Praise the LORD, Jerusalem! Praise your God, Zion! For he has strengthened the bars of your gates. He has blessed your children within you. He makes peace in your borders. He fills you with the finest of the wheat. He sends out his commandment to the earth. His word runs very swiftly. He gives snow like wool, and scatters frost like ashes. He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can stand before his cold? He sends out his word, and melts them. He causes his wind to blow, and the waters flow. He shows his word to Jacob, his statutes and his ordinances to Israel. He has not done this for just any nation. They don’t know his ordinances. Praise the LORD!”

Even if you haven’t experienced a sense of physical safety and security in this life, or had a time when you’ve felt completely shielded and cared for, you should have had a sense of God’s spiritual protection and grace.

Ephesians 1:13-14 “In him you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation—in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is a pledge of our inheritance, to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory.”

This passage is a reminder that one day we’ll experience physically what we have spiritually. And what a day that will be!

Revelation 21:23-27 “The city has no need for the sun or moon to shine, for the very glory of God illuminated it and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk in its light. The kings of the earth bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. Its gates will in no way be shut by day (for there will be no night there), and they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it so that they may enter. There will in no way enter into it anything profane, or one who causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

For additional worship: What A Day That Will Be

Psalm 147:7-11 “Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving. Sing praises on the harp to our God, who covers the sky with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, who makes grass grow on the mountains. He provides food for the livestock, and for the young ravens when they call. He doesn’t delight in the strength of the horse. He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man. The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his loving kindness.”

The God who made us and provides for us doesn’t care how strong we are, how pretty we are, or how much we have. He cares if we know Him, follow Him, and hope in Him!

Mark 12:30 ” ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.”

For additional worship: The God We Love (Nicene Creed)