GENESIS: The Earth Repopulated; "Now the sons of Noah who went out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And Ham was the father of Canaan. These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the whole earth was populated!"

Now the sons of Noah who went out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And Ham was the father of Canaan. These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the whole earth was populated. (Genesis 9:18-19) 

After coming out of the ark, God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth. (Genesis 9:1)  This would fulfill the commandment He gave to mankind at creation, to “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it;..." (Genesis 1:28) And they would be fruitful and multiply, but first the children of Noah would receive their blessing or curse, based on their behavior towards their father, just as became custom from the time Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden.

And Noah began to be a farmer, and he planted a vineyard. Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. But Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and went backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father’s nakedness. So Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done to him. Then he said: “Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants he shall be to his brethren.” And he said: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem, and may Canaan be his servant. May God enlarge Japheth, and may he dwell in the tents of Shem; and may Canaan be his servant.” (Genesis 9:20-27)

Even before the commandments were given, the commandment towards how we treat our parents was in affect; “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you." (Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16)...and that it may be well with you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you." (Deuteronomy 5:16) Because of Ham's dishonoring his father, and instead of covering him up, he mocked him, he and his descendants received a curse, which we will learn more about as we continue studying the scripture, and get to the Canaanites. And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years. So all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years; and he died. (Genesis 9:28-29)

Now this is the genealogy of the sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And sons were born to them after the flood. The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. The sons of Javan were Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. From these the coastland peoples of the Gentiles were separated into their lands, everyone according to his language, according to their families, into their nations. (Genesis 10:1-5)

The sons of Ham were Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. The sons of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabtechah; and the sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan. Cush begot Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one on the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord.”  And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. From that land he went to Assyria and built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah,  and Resen between Nineveh and Calah (that is the principal city). Mizraim begot Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, Pathrusim, and Casluhim (from whom came the Philistines and Caphtorim). Canaan begot Sidon his firstborn, and Heth; the Jebusite, the Amorite, and the Girgashite; the Hivite, the Arkite, and the Sinite; the Arvadite, the Zemarite, and the Hamathite. Afterward the families of the Canaanites were dispersed. And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon as you go toward Gerar, as far as Gaza; then as you go toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha. These were the sons of Ham, according to their families, according to their languages, in their lands and in their nations. (Genesis 10:6-20) 

And children were born also to Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder. The sons of Shem were Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram. The sons of Aram were Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash. Arphaxad begot Salah, and Salah begot Eber. To Eber were born two sons: *the name of one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan. Joktan begot Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, Obal, Abimael, Sheba, Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan. And their dwelling place was from Mesha as you go toward Sephar, the mountain of the east. These were the sons of Shem, according to their families, according to their languages, in their lands, according to their nations. (Genesis 10:21-31) 

It's funny how God often times does not allow the writers of the scripture to go into detail about certain things that we most want to know, but in other places He goes into great detail about things we don't find as interesting.  This is one of those times.  God just throws in a phrase, the name of one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided, but it is a very important piece of information.  (read "Pangea - How God Split the Continents")

From Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the entire world was repopulated.  They had wives who came out of the ark with them.  They had sons as specified in the scriptures above, but they also had to have had daughters.  We understand from scripture that the genealogies of a people usually only list the males, because that's how the family name and line continues, even today.

From the time of Noah and his sons, incest was necessary to repopulate the earth. But the family lines were not polluted by mixing with foreign peoples and fallen angels, as in the time before the flood, when ...the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose. ... There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the Lord said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. (Genesis 6:2-8)

But once the earth was repopulated and spread throughout the world, God would later command against incest, by stating, "None of you shall approach anyone who is near of kin to him, to uncover his nakedness: I am the Lord. The nakedness of your father or the nakedness of your mother you shall not uncover. She is your mother; you shall not uncover her nakedness. The nakedness of your father’s wife you shall not uncover; it is your father’s nakedness. The nakedness of your sister, the daughter of your father, or the daughter of your mother, whether born at home or elsewhere, their nakedness you shall not uncover. The nakedness of your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter, their nakedness you shall not uncover; for theirs is your own nakedness. The nakedness of your father’s wife’s daughter, begotten by your father—she is your sister—you shall not uncover her nakedness." (Leviticus 18:6-11)

Anyway, these godly offspring (Malachi 2:15), would repopulate the whole world. We should note that we'll be especially involved in studying Shem's descendants, who are in the genealogy of Christ Jesus' earthly father. (Luke 3:23-38)  After the world was repopulated, God would cause the people to separate into different areas and languages, and He will divide the earth, separate the continents, which we will study in the next lesson.  But for now, These were the families of the sons of Noah, according to their generations, in their nations; and from these the nations were divided on the earth after the flood. (Genesis 10:32)

GENESIS: God's Promise After the Flood; "Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind!"

Then the Lord said in His heart, “I will never again curse the ground for man’s sake, although the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done. While the earth remains, seed time and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease.” (Genesis 8:21-22)

As we studied in the previous lessons, the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the Lord said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. (Genesis 6:5-8)

The Lord sent a flood and did exactly that, the waters prevailed exceedingly on the earth, and all the high hills under the whole heaven were covered. The waters prevailed fifteen cubits upward, and the mountains were covered. And all flesh died that moved on the earth: birds and cattle and beasts and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man. All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, all that was on the dry land, died. So He destroyed all living things which were on the face of the ground: both man and cattle, creeping thing and bird of the air. They were destroyed from the earth. Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive. (Genesis 6:19-23)

After 150 days and once the water were dried up from the earth, God spoke to Noah, saying, “Go out of the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons’ wives with you. Bring out with you every living thing of all flesh that is with you: birds and cattle and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, so that they may abound on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth.” So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him. Every animal, every creeping thing, every bird, and whatever creeps on the earth, according to their families, went out of the ark. (Genesis 8:15-19)

God destroyed every living thing from the earth, except for Noah and his family, even though He knew that wickedness and evil would continue, because the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth.  No one had to teach us to do wrong, that comes naturally. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but howto perform what is good I do not find. (Romans 7:18) Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,And in sin my mother conceived me. (Psalm 51:5)

The flood wasn't about removing all wickedness and evil from the earth.  If that were the reason, God would have had to destroy Noah and his family also.  The purpose of the flood was to prepare the genealogy, the bloodline for the woman's Seed, Christ Jesus to come. The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. (Genesis 6:11-12) But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. ... Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God. ... Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did. (Genesis 6:8-9, 22)

Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth. The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands. Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything. (Genesis 9:1-3 NIV)

The Lord God had told mankind, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food”;... (Genesis 1:29-30)  Everyone and every animal was given the fruit and the plants for food.  Now, God was allowing them to eat everything that lives and moves about.

The issue with eating the meat of the animals isn't so much which animals they should and shouldn't eat, but what to do with the blood of the animal, For the life of the flesh is in the blood,... (Leviticus 17:11) “But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it. And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each human being, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of another human being. Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind. As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it.” (Genesis 9:4-7 NIV)

Later the Lord would instruct Moses and the descendants of Noah, the children of Israel on how to handle the blood of an animal.  But for now, the Lord just wanted to make sure that mankind realized that the shedding of blood is not to be taken lightly. If you kill an animal, it should only be for food for you; but be sure not to eat it if it has its lifeblood still in it.  

But even more important, we are not to kill each other, for in the image of God has God made mankind. God commanded mankind, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:28) And He reiterated that same commandment to Noah and his family, to "be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it.”  

Mankind is the only thing in creation made in God's image. “What is man that You are mindful of him,Or the son of man that You take care of him? You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, and set him over the works of Your hands. You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” (Hebrews 2:6-8) His desire is one day to redeem us and return us to a new "Eden", a new heaven and a new earth,... (Revelations 21:1) Therefore, we shouldn't act like the animals, nor treat each other like animals, because we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (II Corinthians 5:1)

Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth. I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.” (Genesis 9:8-11 NIV) It won't be water, but fire next time! ...by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. (II Peter 3:5-7)

However, in the meantime, And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.” (Genesis 9:12-17 NIV)

GENESIS: After the Flood; God spoke to Noah, saying, “Go out of the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons’ wives with you, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth!”

Then God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the animals that were with him in the ark. (Genesis 8:1)

In the previous lessons, we learned that God told Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark..." (Genesis 6:13-14) So Noah, with his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives, went into the ark because of the waters of the flood. Of clean animals, of animals that are unclean, of birds, and of everything that creeps on the earth, two by two they went into the ark to Noah, male and female, as God had commanded Noah. And it came to pass after seven days that the waters of the flood were on the earth. (Genesis 7:7-10) 

Now the flood was on the earth forty days. The waters increased and lifted up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. ... And all flesh died that moved on the earth: birds and cattle and beasts and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man. All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, all that was on the dry land, died. So He destroyed all living things which were on the face of the ground: both man and cattle, creeping thing and bird of the air. They were destroyed from the earth. Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive. And the waters prevailed on the earth one hundred and fifty days. (Genesis 7:17-24)

Now, the flood was over and all living things were destroyed from the earth. And God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters subsided. The fountains of the deep and the windows of heaven were also stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained. And the waters receded continually from the earth. At the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters decreased. Then the ark rested in the seventh month, the seventeenth day of the month, on the mountains of Ararat. And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month. In the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains were seen. (Genesis 8:2-5)

So it came to pass, at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made. Then he sent out a raven, which kept going to and fro until the waters had dried up from the earth. He also sent out from himself a dove, to see if the waters had receded from the face of the ground. But the dove found no resting place for the sole of her foot, and she returned into the ark to him, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth. So he put out his hand and took her, and drew her into the ark to himself. And he waited yet another seven days, and again he sent the dove out from the ark. Then the dove came to him in the evening, and behold, a freshly plucked olive leaf was in her mouth; and Noah knew that the waters had receded from the earth. So he waited yet another seven days and sent out the dove, which did not return again to him anymore. (Genesis 8:6-12)

Very simple test, but Noah and every living thing on the ark with him were not to leave until the ground was dry.  ...the Lord shut him in. (Genesis 7:16) And He was not going to let them out before the time was right.  Christ Jesus once taught, "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand." (John 10:28) When we become children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus, no one and nothing can destroy us, because we have received eternal life.  

Noah believed and obeyed they Word of God. Christ Jesus is the Word of God, the Son of God, Lord God. (John 1:1-18) Because of his belief and obedience, God protected him from being destroyed by having him build an ark and then shutting him in it. The ark symbolized ...the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30) And it came to pass in the six hundred and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, that the waters were dried up from the earth; and Noah removed the covering of the ark and looked, and indeed the surface of the ground was dry. And in the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dried. (Genesis 8:13-14)

Then God spoke to Noah, saying, “Go out of the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons’ wives with you. Bring out with you every living thing of all flesh that is with you: birds and cattle and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, so that they may abound on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth.” So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him. Every animal, every creeping thing, every bird, and whatever creeps on the earth, according to their families, went out of the ark. Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. (Genesis 8:15-20)

Two important things.  First, we studied it in a previous lesson, but now we see the fulfillment here of God's promise to Satan, "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed;..." (Genesis 3:15) Her Seed would come directly from the line of Adam and Eve, through the direct descendant of Noah and his wife and their son Shem and his wife, and not by ...the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. (Genesis 6:3) Satan's attempt to thwart God's plan did not work!

Finally, a sacrifice was required to God for what He had done for them.  That's why God had originally told him, "You shall take with you seven each of every clean animal, a male and his female; two each of animals that are unclean, a male and his female; also seven each of birds of the air, male and female, to keep the species alive on the face of all the earth." (Genesis 7:2-3) And the Lord smelled a soothing aroma. (Genesis 8:21) And we are to be ...a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. (Romans 12:1) For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. (II Corinthians 2:15-16)

GENESIS: The Flood was Punishment for Wickedness and Evil; "And all flesh died that moved on the earth: birds and cattle and beasts and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man!"

Then the Lord said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation. (Genesis 7:1)

Of all the people on the earth at that time, only Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God. (Genesis 6:8-9) Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did. (Genesis 6:22) This is how we are righteous before God, in the midst of a wickedness and evil.  We are to walk with God, not after the ways of this world; and we are to obey His Word, whatever He tells us to do.  Noah represented what is required by God, and Christ Jesus fulfilled it when He came, “Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth;” [Isaiah 53:9] (I Peter 2:22)

The scriptures don't say that Noah's children or the animals were righteous, just him; but because of him being righteous, his children and every species of animal will be saved also. "You shall take with you seven each of every clean animal, a male and his female; two each of animals that are unclean, a male and his female; also seven each of birds of the air, male and female, to keep the species alive on the face of all the earth. For after seven more days I will cause it to rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and I will destroy from the face of the earth all living things that I have made.” And Noah did according to all that the Lord commanded him. Noah was six hundred years old when the flood waters were on the earth. (Genesis 7:2-6)

So Noah, with his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives, went into the ark because of the waters of the flood. Of clean animals, of animals that are unclean, of birds, and of everything that creeps on the earth, two by two they went into the ark to Noah, male and female, as God had commanded Noah. And it came to pass after seven days that the waters of the flood were on the earth. In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. And the rain was on the earth forty days and forty nights. (Genesis 7:7-12)

On the very same day Noah and Noah’s sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons with them, entered the ark— they and every beast after its kind, all cattle after their kind, every creeping thing that creeps on the earth after its kind, and every bird after its kind, every bird of every sort. And they went into the ark to Noah, two by two, of all flesh in which is the breath of life. So those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the Lord shut him in. (Genesis 7:13-16) "...two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive. And you shall take for yourself of all food that is eaten, and you shall gather it to yourself; and it shall be food for you and for them.” (Gensis 6:20-21)

Noah didn't go looking for the animals, but God sent the animals to Noah, two of every kind clean and unclean to keep alive, just like Noah and his wife. The additional seven each of every clean and unclean animal, a male and his female, God also sent to keep the species alive on the face of all the earth, just like He included Noah's three sons and their wife, male and female.  God is a loving God, but He is also a just God. “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; and He repays those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack with him who hates Him; He will repay him to his face." (Deuteronomy 7:9-10)  And that's exactly what God did to the wicked and evil people on the earth, along with all living creatures who remained on the earth.

Now the flood was on the earth forty days. The waters increased and lifted up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. The waters prevailed and greatly increased on the earth, and the ark moved about on the surface of the waters. And the waters prevailed exceedingly on the earth, and all the high hills under the whole heaven were covered. The waters prevailed fifteen cubits upward, and the mountains were covered. And all flesh died that moved on the earth: birds and cattle and beasts and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man. All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, all that was on the dry land, died. (Gensis 7:17-22) Even the animals of the water would be destroyed, when the floods would later subside. 

Christ Jesus warned that just as Noah prepared before the flood actually came, we are to prepare ourselves for His return also. “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be." (Matthew 24:36-39; Luke 17:26-27) By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. (Hebrews 11:7)

God gave all mankind on the earth at that time 120 years to repent, because that's how long it took Noah to build the ark. God, ...desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (I Timothy 2:3-4) ...the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. (I Peter 3:20) But each of us will have to deal with the consequences of our own choices. For if God... did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly;... then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. (II Peter 2:4-10)

So He destroyed all living things which were on the face of the ground: both man and cattle, creeping thing and bird of the air. They were destroyed from the earth. Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive. And the waters prevailed on the earth one hundred and fifty days. (Genesis 7:23-24)

GENESIS: God Commands Noah to Build the Ark; "The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth!"

The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. (Genesis 6:11-12)

We studied in the previous lesson that the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5) God, He seeks godly offspring." (Malachi 2:14-15) But Satan desired to thwart God's plan, and the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose. And the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh;...” (Genesis 6:2-3)

And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. (Genesis 6:13) How is it all flesh on the earth had corrupted their way and was filled with violence?  Because just as Eve and then Adam sought to fulfill the desires of their flesh outside of the will of God, that same sin nature is in all of us naturally. “There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one.” “Their throat is an open tomb; with their tongues they have practiced deceit”; “The poison of asps is under their lips”; “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood; destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way of peace they have not known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Romans 3:11-18)

The generation of people during Noah's time were so corrupt that they actually married and procreated with the sons of God, the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode,... (Jude 1:6) This was all a part of Satan's plan to stop the Seed of the woman, Christ Jesus from coming; because he knew that when the fullness of the time had come, God [would send] forth His Son, born of a woman,... that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (Galatians 4:4-7)

However, even though Satan was able to corrupt most of the world, there was still one man, Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God. (Genesis 6:9) And God gave Noah 120 years for him and his family to get prepared before He destroyed all flesh with the earth. 'Make yourself an ark of gopher wood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch. And this is how you shall make it: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. You shall make a window for the ark, and you shall finish it to a cubit from above; and set the door of the ark in its side. You shall make it with lower, second, and third decks. (Genesis 6:14-16)

"And behold, I Myself am bringing flood waters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die. But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark—you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. And of every living thing of all flesh you shall bring two of every sort into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. Of the birds after their kind, of animals after their kind, and of every creeping thing of the earth after its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive. And you shall take for yourself of all food that is eaten, and you shall gather it to yourself; and it shall be food for you and for them.” (Genesis 6:17-21)

Up until this point, it had not rained on the earth.  Surely the people during Noah's time watched him and wondered what was wrong with him; why was he building this large vessel?  Even when it seems crazy or ridiculous to us to obey God and follow His commandments, when things don't appear like there's a problem, we better do the same thing Noah did; because, “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?" (Numbers 23:19) Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did. (Genesis 6:22) We'll find out why it's best to obey in the next lesson...

GENESIS: Be Fruitful and Multiply, but not That Way; " the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them!"

Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose. (Genesis 6:1-2)

Who are the sons of God referring to?  In the Old Testament scriptures, this phrase is only used when speaking of the angels: Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. (Job 1:6) Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord. (Job 2:1) "When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" (Job 38:7)

In the New Testament scriptures, the same phrase is used to describe those of us who accept Christ Jesus as our Savior and Lord, Christians: "Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God." (Matthew 5:9) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (Romans 8:14) For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. (Romans 8:19) For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:26)

However, one specific use of this phrase by Christ Jesus helps bring the meaning in this passage together: Then some of the Sadducees, who deny that there is a resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, saying: “Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies, having a wife, and he dies without children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. Now there were seven brothers. And the first took a wife, and died without children. And the second took her as wife, and he died childless. Then the third took her, and in like manner the seven also; and they left no children, and died. Last of all the woman died also. Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife does she become? For all seven had her as wife.” (Luke 20:27-33) 

Jesus answered and said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.” (Luke 20:34-36) 

Remember, the Lord God said about Satan, “How you are fallen from heaven,O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit." (Isaiah 14:12-15) 

But Satan wasn't the only angel that fell from heaven. And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day; as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. (Jude 1:6-7)

Satan knew his ending, Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth,... And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (Revelation 20:7-10)

Satan also knew that God promised Him, "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” (Genesis 3:15) The promised coming of the Seed, Christ Jesus was to save the world and deliver mankind from the penalty of sin, eternal damnation with Satan and his angels in the lake of fire and brimstone, where they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

This promised Seed would come from a holy union, ordained by God; Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. (Genesis 2:24) The Lord God said, "...she is your companion and your wife by covenant. But did He not make them one, having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring." (Malachi 2:14-15) In an attempt to thwart God's plan, Satan's angels took wives for themselves of all whom they chose. There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. (Genesis 6:4) 

And the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” (Genesis 6:3) God would give mankind 120 years before He would destroy them off the face of the earth.  Why? Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the Lord said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.”  (Genesis 6:5-7)

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. (Genesis 6:8) No matter how Satan attempts to mess up God's plans, God always has the final say! Satan's angels couldn't stop God's promised Seed from coming by conceiving children with the daughters of men, because the man Noah had sons, and from their descendants, the Seed would come.  This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God. And Noah begot three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Genesis 6:9-10) So what would God have Noah do for the next 120 years?  We will continue in the next study...

GENESIS: Whom Did Christ Jesus Come From; "This is the book of the genealogy of Adam!"

And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, “For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed.” And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on the name of the Lord. (Genesis 4:25-26)

Again, as we've studied in the previous lessons, we must point out that there were other people on the planet; In the day that God created man [adam, mankind], He made him in the likeness of God. He created them male and female, and blessed them and called them Mankind in the day they were created. (Genesis 5:1-2, 1:26-30)

But all the books of the Bible have one common thread, the coming of, the life of , and the return of Christ Jesus.  Only the people who were directly linked to His earthly parents and therefore His birth are emphasized throughout the scriptures.

This is the book of the genealogy of Adam [ha'adam, the man]. (Genesis 5:1) And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years, and begot a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. After he begot Seth, the days of Adam were eight hundred years; and he had sons and daughters. So all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years; and he died. (Genesis 5:3-5)

Adam and Eve had other children, but yet again, the Bible only emphasizes those directly linked to Christ Jesus. Seth lived one hundred and five years, and begot Enosh. After he begot Enosh, Seth lived eight hundred and seven years, and had sons and daughters. So all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years; and he died. (Genesis 5:6-8)

Enosh lived ninety years, and begot Cainan. After he begot Cainan, Enosh lived eight hundred and fifteen years, and had sons and daughters. So all the days of Enosh were nine hundred and five years; and he died. (Genesis 5:9-11)

Cainan lived seventy years, and begot Mahalalel. After he begot Mahalalel, Cainan lived eight hundred and forty years, and had sons and daughters. So all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years; and he died. (Genesis 5:12-14)

Mahalalel lived sixty-five years, and begot Jared. After he begot Jared, Mahalalel lived eight hundred and thirty years, and had sons and daughters. So all the days of Mahalalel were eight hundred and ninety-five years; and he died. (Genesis 5:15-17)

Jared lived one hundred and sixty-two years, and begot Enoch. After he begot Enoch, Jared lived eight hundred years, and had sons and daughters. So all the days of Jared were nine hundred and sixty-two years; and he died. (Genesis 5:18-20)

Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah. After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. (Genesis 5:21-24)

Methuselah lived one hundred and eighty-seven years, and begot Lamech. After he begot Lamech, Methuselah lived seven hundred and eighty-two years, and had sons and daughters. So all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty-nine years; and he died. (Genesis 5:25-27)

Lamech lived one hundred and eighty-two years, and had a son. And he called his name Noah, saying, “This one will comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord has cursed.” After he begot Noah, Lamech lived five hundred and ninety-five years, and had sons and daughters. So all the days of Lamech were seven hundred and seventy-seven years; and he died. (Genesis 5:28-31)

To understand why the genealogy of Adam and then his son, Seth and all who followed is important, we have to know the genealogy of Christ Jesus (read Genealogy of Jesus, the Christ): 

Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,the son of Melchi, the son of Janna, the son of Joseph, the son of Mattathiah, the sonof Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, the son of Maath, the son of Mattathiah, the son of Semei, the son of Joseph, the son of Judah, the son of Joannas, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmodam, the son of Er, the son of Jose, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the sonof Levi, the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonan, the son of Eliakim, the son of Melea, the son of Menan, the son of Mattathah,*the son of Nathan, the son of David*, the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the sonof Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan, the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God. (Luke 3:23-38) This genealogy from Seth, to Noah, to Shem, all the way to David, to his son Nathan represents Christ Jesus being of the priest line of the Jews. 

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham: Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king. *David the king begot Solomon* by her who had been the wife of Uriah. Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rehoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa. Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah. Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah. Hezekiah begot Manasseh, Manasseh begot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah. Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon. And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor. Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud. Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob. And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ. (Matthew 1:1-16) This genealogy is the same all the way until we get to David, then to his son Solomon. This genealogy represents Christ Jesus being of the king line of the Jews.

The scripture is very clear that No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. (John 1:18) Christ Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, for God Himself said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” (Matthew 17:5)  Christ Jesus was the promised Seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15), and through the genealogies of Adam, to Seth, to Noah, to David and two of his sons, Solomon and Nathan, we get to Joseph, from his biological father Joseph and his step-father Heli.  Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ. (read Genealogy of Jesus, the Christ)

But going back, as for Lamech son, Noah, And Noah was five hundred years old, and Noah begot Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Genesis 5:32) Again, as we've stated previously, through Noah and his children, God's Word would be fulfilled, which was spoken by Adam, that Eve would be the mother of all living. (Genesis 3:20) Everyone on the earth would be destroyed in the coming flood, except for Noah and his family, which we will study why in the next lesson...

GENESIS: How to Live at Peace Among All People; "If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-sevenfold!”

Then Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and dwelt in the land of Nod on the east of Eden. (Genesis 4:16)

We studied in the previous lesson that the Lord God punished Cain for murdering his brother, Abel, And He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground. So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth.” (Genesis 4:10-12)

Cain was greatly distressed by this, And Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear! Surely You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground; I shall be hidden from Your face; I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth, and it will happen that anyone who finds me will kill me.” And the Lord said to him, “Therefore, whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord set a mark on Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him.(Genesis 4:13-15)

Even though God would not allow Cain to be killed by anyone, Cain still had to deal with the consequences of his sin, and be alienated from his family, and go live in a foreign place, out of the presence of the Lord, in the land of Nod, somewhere in area know currently as Iran.

And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. (Genesis 4:17)  We also studied in the previous lesson that there were other people on the earth, but we won't go in detail again here.  Briefly, God created man [Hebrew adam, meaning mankind] in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them,... (Genesis 1:27-28) Then, the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. ... Then the Lord God took the man [Hebrew ha'adam, the man] and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. (Genesis 2:7, 15)

Adam and Eve would be direct descendants of Christ Jesus. (read Genealogy of Jesus, the Christ) All the books of the Bible have one common thread, the coming of, the life of , and the return of Christ Jesus.  Only the people who were directly linked to His earthly parents and therefore His birth are emphasized throughout the scriptures. As for the other people, even though God would not allow anyone to kill Cain, he and all the other people on the planet would eventually perish in the flood during Noah's time, so they are not relevant to the genealogy of Christ Jesus.

However, while Cain lived, he and his wife from Nod had children, and their children had children, and so on.  And he built a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son—Enoch. To Enoch was born Irad; and Irad begot Mehujael, and Mehujael begot Methushael, and Methushael begot Lamech. (Genesis 4:17-18)  For a period of approximately 500 years, Adam and Eve and all the people on the earth were being fruitful and multiplying; filling the earth... (Genesis 1:28)

Just from the few names we've already learned, we understand that all names given had a meaning, starting with the Lord God naming Adam, meaning the man, through whom the Seed [Christ Jesus] would come; to Adam naming Eve, meaning the mother of all living, through whom the Seed would come, which would be fulfilled through Noah and his children.  Then Lamech took for himself two wives: the name of one was Adah, and the name of the second was Zillah. (Genesis 4:19) Abah means adornment or light; and Zillah means shade or darkness. 

Their names and then the professions that their children participated in could imply many things, but one common belief is that the differences represent the moral "light" and "darkness" within the culture.  And Adah bore Jabal. He was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. His brother’s name was Jubal. He was the father of all those who play the harp and flute. And as for Zillah, she also bore Tubal-Cain, an instructor of every craftsman in bronze and iron. And the sister of Tubal-Cain was Naamah. (Genesis 4:20-22)

Then Lamech said to his wives: “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; Wives of Lamech, listen to my speech! For I have killed a man for wounding me, even a young man for hurting me. If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.” (Genesis 4:23-24) Interesting that this scripture is recorded.  Remember Cain murdered his brother Abel, but the Lord God warned that if anyone would kill Cain, He would give a sevenfold punishment to that person.  

Well, Lamech killed someone for attacking him, but he's also concerned that someone will try to kill him; and he prays that if anyone seeks vengeance for that man's life, that the Lord God will punish them seventy-sevenfold. Why would the Lord God not allow either of these men to be killed, even though they murdered or killed someone? Because God is teaching mankind a lesson, that "Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; their foot shall slip in due time; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things to come hasten upon them.’ “For the Lord will judge His people..." (Deuteronomy 32:35-36)

Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. (Romans 12:17-19) From the beginning, God has always tried to help mankind to understand that we are to obey His commands, or "...you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:17) " If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.” (Genesis 4:7)

We are to overcome the temptation to sin in our lives, by obeying the Word of God. But if we sin or someone sins against us, we are not to seek vengeance. Instead, Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; ff he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”[Proverbs 25:21-22] Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:20-21) AMEN!

GENESIS: "Yield not to Temptation, for Yielding is Sin"; "its desire is for you, but you should rule over it!”

Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Gensis 4:8-9) 

In the previous lesson, we studied that the Lord God warned Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.” (Genesis 4:6-7)  God has given us freewill and the right to make our own choices.  God tests us, but Satan tempts us, and we do not have to give in to his temptation.  As the old hymn says, 'Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin." That's exactly what the Lord God told Cain.

The Apostle Paul explained it this way; Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (I Corinthians 10:12-13)  None of us has to commit sin, but if we choose to, we also choose to deal with the consequences.

In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous. (I John 3:10-12)

Cain was able to "hide" what he did from Adam and Eve, by taking Abel out into the field and killing him; but he couldn't "hide" it from God. Why do the wicked renounce God? He has said in his heart, “You will not require an account.” But You have seen, for You observe trouble and grief, to repay it by Your hand. The helpless commits himself to You;... (Psalm 10:13-14) 

And He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground. So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth.” (Genesis 4:10-11) 

Blood is ...the life of all flesh. Its blood sustains its life. (Leviticus 17:14)  By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. (Hebrews 11:4)  Abel's blood cries out to God from the ground. 

God had not given "the commandments" yet, but based on the commands He had given and the consequences for being disobedient, we should come to the same conclusion as King Solomon did; Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil. (Ecclesiates 12:13-14)

And Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear! Surely You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground; I shall be hidden from Your face; I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth, and it will happen that anyone who finds me will kill me.” (Genesis 4:12-14)

If Adam and Eve were the only people on the Earth, and Cain and Abel were their only children up to this point, who are the anyone who finds me will kill me that Cain is worrying about?  This requires us to take a little detour from the current study and explain some things from the previous studies.

In the beginning... God created man [Hebrew adam, meaning mankind] in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:27-28) Then, the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man [Hebrew Adam, meaning the man] whom He had formed. (Genesis 2:7-8)

God created mankind, but the Lord God formed the man, Adam, who would be a direct descendant of Christ Jesus. (read Genealogy of Jesus, the Christ) All the books of the Bible have one common thread, the coming of, the life of , and the return of Christ Jesus.  Only the people who were directly linked to His earthly parents and therefore His birth are emphasized throughout the scriptures.

There were other people on the earth, but they would all eventually be destroyed from the earth during the time of Noah. Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. (Genesis 3:20) God... has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,... (Acts 17:26) This was a prophetic statement, and was fulfilled through Noah, because all other people on the planet would be destroyed in the flood, except for Noah and his family.  We'll study the reason why in more detail when we get to that lesson.

Noah was a direct descendant of Adam and Eve, and God gave him and his children the following commandment after He delivered them from the flood; So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth. And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be on every beast of the earth, on every bird of the air, on all that move on the earth, and on all the fish of the sea. They are given into your hand. Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs. (Genesis 9:1-3)

"But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man. From the hand of every man’s brother I will require the life of man. Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God He made man. And as for you, be fruitful and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth and multiply in it.” (Genesis 9:1-7) God prophesied this in the beginning of creation (Genesis 1:26-30), but it was fulfilled through the direct descendant of Adam and Even, Noah and his family, the only people who survived the flood that would come. 

And the Lord said to him, “Therefore, whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord set a mark on Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him. (Genesis 4:15)  There are various times throughout scripture that God will put a mark on someone, or reference someone taking the mark of someone.  Whatever the mark actually was that God put on Cain, it would identify him in a way that the people in the world would not kill him. Then Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and dwelt in the land of Nod on the east of Eden. (Genesis 4:16)