Genesis 4-6
Whatever the cause of Cain’s rejection, the text is more interested in his response to it than it is in delineating the details.
— What was Cain’s response and why was that so?
Envy is sorrow over another’s good. Begrudging God’s gift to another.
— What is Cain’s punishment and what happened previously does this remind you of?
The consequence of sin is exile. First, Adam and Eve are sent “out from the garden of Eden” (Gen. 3:23–24). Then Cain is sent “away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden” (Gen. 4:16).
4:25-26 — First revival.
— Why genealogies?
5:29 — He must have received an indication from God that Noah would play a special role in God’s plan for redemption. But then Lamech went too far and assumed Noah was to be the promised seed, the Messiah. So Lamech names Noah and claims he will put an end to the curse and bring our work to an end. Clearly, he was wrong. But by his statement, Lamech does create through his son a picture of the coming Messiah.
6:2 Nephilim — Satan tried to pollute the genetic pool of mankind with a satanic corruption, to put something like a genetic virus to make the human race unfit for bringing forth the Seed of the woman — the Messiah — promised in Genesis 3:15.
— Have you ever looked back and seen how the enemy tried to derail your purpose?
6:3 Not contend with man — He sends his Spirit to irradiate the darkened mind, to expostulate with the conscience, to prompt and strengthen holy resolve, and to bring back the heart, the confidence, the affection to God. He effects the blessed result of repentance toward God in some, who are thus proved to be born of God. But it is a solemn thought that with others he will not strive perpetually. There is a certain point beyond which he will not go, for sufficient reasons known fully to himself, partly to us.
— What attribute of God comes to mind when we think about judgements from God?
6:6 — The beginning of Genesis is a series of successive frustrations on the part of God, who sets about creating a world that will be good for human beings, only to find that they thwart his plans for the world to such an extent that He ultimately destroys it. Consistent with this tragic sensibility, Nahum Sarna notes that God destroys the world out of sadness rather than anger. Although there are other points in the Torah where God is angry, this time He is simply sad.
Righteous anger proceeds from righteous grief.
6:9 and 5:24
— What do you think it means to truly walk with God? What are practical ways we can deepen our daily relationship with Him?
Enoch walked with God after Methuselah had been born, three hundred years, and doubtless he had walked with him before. What a splendid walk! A walk of three hundred years! One might desire a change of company if he walked with anybody else, but to walk with God for three centuries was so sweet that the patriarch kept on with his walk until he walked beyond time and space, and walked into paradise. — Spurgeon
Discussion Questions
- How does sin spread? What is God’s punishment for that sin? How do you see God’s grace in this passage?
- Genesis 5 highlights long lifespans and God’s continued work through each generation. How have you seen God’s faithfulness in your family or in the generations before you?
- What does it look like to live faithfully in a culture that often goes against God’s ways?
- How can we remain obedient to God when it’s difficult or when others don’t understand?
- Compare Genesis 4:7 with 1 Peter 5:8. How does this relate to our wrestle with sinful desires?
- How can seeing God’s forbearance with his frustrations transform the frustrations in our lives into compassion?