Thursday, 16 July 2009 00:00  |  Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Downward Spiral

Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Genesis 4:8

This is the first of some horribly violent journeys in Scripture. Cain takes his brother Abel into his field and kills him.

Cain is the first man to cultivate the cursed land* and he offers God an unsolicited offering from this land.** Was he trying to “sweet-talk” his way back into the garden? Could God’s rejection of Cain’s offering be a rejection of religion?***

After all, does not religious activity bring death instead of life?

FOOTNOTES
* See Genesis 3:17-18
** Genesis 4:3
*** Genesis 4:5

Friday, 17 July 2009 00:00  |  Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Downward Spiral

Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden. Genesis 4:16

When reading the story of Cain it strikes me that Cain did not leave God’s presence until verse 16. Up until this point God is presented in close relationship with Cain! As Cain gave into religion and envy and hate, God came and spoke to him. Have you ever known God interrupt you just before you sinned?

Did you listen?

Monday, 20 July 2009 00:00  |  Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Downward Spiral

Cain lay with his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was then building a city, and he named it after his son Enoch. Genesis 4:17

Cain has been told by God that he will become a restless wanderer on the earth (Genesis 4:12). Hopefully a time of reflective wandering will lead Cain to return to God. Sadly though, we find him building a city; he’s decided to settle down outside of God’s presence.

Don’t we do something similar when we refuse to say sorry for our sin? Do you need to move back towards God today by saying sorry?

Tuesday, 21 July 2009 00:00  |  Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Downward Spiral

The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain… God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. Genesis 6:6 & 6:12

This is the first time the phrase “God saw” has been used since Genesis 1. Back in Genesis 1 everything God saw was good; how dramatically the tide has turned! God looks now and sees the impact of sin upon his creation and is grieved. “The Fall” as Christians call it, is more of a downward spiral into sin. Noah was the 9th generation after Adam. Sin left unchecked spirals out of control.

Wednesday, 22 July 2009 00:00  |  Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Downward Spiral

I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens… but I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark. Genesis 6:17-18

Noah is told to build an ark. He and his three sons take (I’m guessing) at least a decade to build this huge vessel. So while a flood may seem a harsh response to man’s sin, God in his grace gives years of warning. Each day was another chance for people to repent and help Noah build. Instead humanity chose sin over God.

Thursday, 23 July 2009 00:00  |  Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Downward Spiral

As men moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there… “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the… earth.” Genesis 11:2 & 11:4

The Mediterranean Sea formed Israel’s western border while desert stretched out from their eastern border. Moving east represented to the Israelites moving into a place of danger, hostility and enemies. In Genesis moving east is used as a picture of humanity moving farther and farther away from God’s dream.

At Babel the people are celebrating their ingenuity and God comes and disrupts their plans. In which direction (metaphorically) is your life moving?