Genesis 1-11

The Great Story Begins

Role & Purpose Genesis 5:1-5, 28 – 6:8

Historyª Began Gen – how to read properly – creation

· 3rd week: The “Fall”

· Last week – Cain … “the way of Cain” (Jude 11)

ª A quick zip through history

· Important themes set in motion

1. Two Linesª Second structural marker – “Toledot”

· First (2:4) – “generations of heavens and the earth”

· Second (5:1) – “generations of Adam”

· Next (6:9) - “generations of Noah”

ª Two lines of descent – Cain & Seth

1. Two Lines …

ª Line of Cain

· Lists 7 generations from Adam - Lamech

· Lamech has three sons¸ Significant in advancement of human flourishing

· Lamech murdered someone for injuring him¸ A violent over reaction (cf. Ex 21:23-24, Lev 24:19-21)

· Good & band come from Cain’s line¸ Trajectory is not promising

1. Two Lines . . .

ª Line of Seth

· People began to call on the name of YHWH (4:26)

· Seth’s birth is important:¸ Curse– enmity between serpent & “offspring” (seed)

¸ Seth – God has appointed another “offspring” (seed)

ª Two themes:

· Through Cain’s line evil continues

· Through Seth’s line “seed” of messiah continues

2. Broken Boundariesª “Sons of God” (Nephilim) – angelic being

ª Putting a few verses next to each other:¸ 1:10 – God saw [ra’ah] it was good [tov]

¸ 3:6 – Woman saw [ra’ah] fruit good [tov] and took [laqach]

¸ 6:2 – Nephilim saw [ra’ah] daughters [tov] & took [laqach]

¸ 6:5 – God saw [ra’ah] – aleph] wickedness [ra‘ah – Ayin]

ª Outer bracket – God “sees” “good” then ”bad”

2. Broken Boundaries . . .

ª Problem has compounded:

· Woman “saw” fruit “good” “took”

· Nephilim “saw” daughters “good” “took”

· Eve transgressed boundary when she ate

· Mix human & spiritual beings transgress boundary¸ Gen 1:24-25 – “according to their kinds”

2. Broken Boundaries . . .

ª When Adam named (2:19) – not just label

· Name designated place, purpose, role

· When creatures transgress place – creates disorder

· Each functioned & reproduced according to kind

ª Humans were stepping outside the boundaries

· Striving after immortality, power, godlikeness

3. Epidemic Evilª “Every intention of their heart – only evil” (6:5)

ª God limits human lifespan to max 120 years

· Seth’s descendants lived a long time

ª 7th generation from Adam another Lamech

· Gives birth to a son – Noah (5:29)

Living It –ª Two lines … Broken boundaries … Epidemic Evil

· Predominant trajectory

ª What was I personally created to be / do?

· Am I willing to take role God purposed for me?

· Who is the master of my destiny?

· Important parts of my life are outside my control

· Live joyfully in who I am, what I do, where I am??

Living It …

ª Everyone in Genesis had to choose

ª What choice will I make?