The fall was not an isolated event, effecting Adam and Eve, but the introduction of a virulent contagion capable of tainting every aspect of human experience.
Cain and Abel
Genesis 4:1-16 Within the second generation of humanity, we encounter not only jealousy, but even murder. Even so, God did not give up on Cain; He warned him beforehand and protected him from vengeance afterwards.
The Flood
Genesis 6:1-7 After many generations, human evil compounded to such a degree that everyone’s thoughts were only evil continually. Consequently, God regretted He ever made us and resolved to blot out all of humanity.
Genesis 6:8 This one little verse changes everything. It’s the first instance in Scripture of God’s grace or favor.
Genesis 6:9-22 If Noah could be a righteous man who lived blamelessly in the midst of overwhelming rebelliousness, violence, and sin, then what’s your excuse? God decided to save the people and the animals in an ark. He could have rescued them on His own, but He chose to involve them in the process.
Genesis 7:15-24 Once the animals and Noah’s family were in the ark, God closed the door. It rained for forty days, then the waters prevailed 150 days. What must that have been like to be a zoo keeper for half a year while the boat floated in the sea?
Genesis 8:8-12 Noah sent out doves to see if the water had subsided. When the one returned with an olive leaf, it told him that the flood waters had receded and that he would be saved.
Genesis 9:8-13 God made a covenant never to destroy the earth with a flood again. The rainbow is the sign of this covenant.
The Tower of Babel
Genesis 11:1-4 At first glance, it’s hard to see why this would be problematic. However, God had commanded humanity to “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it” (Genesis 1:28).
Genesis 11:5-9 God had to stop them from repeating the mistakes of the past. Languages are our reminder that unity and progress are not always virtues if we aren’t pursuing God’s will.
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