Daily Bible Journal

Brief Summary:

• Chapter 4: Cain and Abel – sibling rivalry
• Chapter 5: Adam’s family line all the way from Adam until Noah
• Chapter 6 & 7: Flood chronicles – the corruption of the world, how God decides to bring in the flood, and how the flood covered the earth

Key Observations:

• First & Best: Chapter 4 verse 4 – Abel brought the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. So, some specificity is mentioned here. But Cain brought the fruit of the ground – it could be like, you know, any fruit. But there’s some specificity mentioned on Abel’s offering. So, it was intentional. That’s my first observation: I need to be intentional in my offering.
• It’s funny how God asks questions as if he doesn’t know. Like, he asked Abel 3 questions. Now he asks Cain 2 questions. When Cain murdered Abel, God asked a couple of questions to him:
  • “Where is Abel your brother?”
  • “What have you done?”
  • God knows these questions. But he still asks. Could be the work of the Holy Spirit. Even today, when I’m found in my sinful state, God asks questions.
• There’s a pattern that we see here. After men fell because of sin, God came and convicted them, asking questions to draw them back to him. And then we see acts of God’s compassion. God stitched clothes for Adam and Eve. With Cain and Abel, when Cain said that “Lord, the punishment is too much for me,” I see God’s compassion – that he puts a mark on Cain and says that if anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.
• As we continue to read, life goes on after Abel’s death and God’s meeting with Cain. People started building a city, and people began tending their livestock. We read about musicians. We read about metalsmiths, forgers of bronze and iron. We even read about crude men like Lamech, who was a murderer. Then Adam is blessed with another son, whose name is Enosh. The Bible says that at that time, people began to call upon the name of the Lord. And there’s a pattern here – that we mess up, but God draws us back to him.
• As we reach chapter 6, we encounter one of the most profound verses here. Chapter 6 verse 5 – “The Lord saw the wickedness of the man was great in the earth.” And this is a significant part of the verse – that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
• Another observation is where Noah walked with God – chapter 6 verse 9, like Enoch – chapter 5 verse 24.