Chronological Plan for Jan 2

We're going to take a "Big Picture" look at how the Bible fits together and tells us about who God is, what His plan of redemption is and how it works, particularly in these first books. If you would like to weigh in on any of the finer points, please feel free to add to the discussion. 

Today's readings are Gen 4-7. Tomorrow's are Gen 8-11. 

In Gen 4, we see that Cain, who seemingly has godly parents (Gen 4:1), also has an angry and murderous heart. This exposes the fallen nature of man and why he fell. Left to his own devices, he is self-centered and longs to be self-determined. Even though Cain is guilty of murdering his brother, God is gracious. There are real-time consequences. But God, who has promised lineage to Adam and Eve, spares and preserves Cain. 

Men are blessed with long lives, perhaps in order to populate the world, perhaps merely becasue it is God's plan. We follow the generational lines up to Noah. By Noah's time, man's nature has been totally corrupted and is evil. God decides to judge the entire world by bringing a flood.

Noah, who is declared righteous (compared to other men), is shown grace. God wants Noah to build an ark. All those on the ark will be spared the judgment that is coming. 

Notice, God chooses who goes on the ark. The ark represents salvation through grace, just as God spared Cain by His grace. We're beginning to see that God saves through grace. Those who are not recipients of God's grace die in the flood which covers everything on earth. 

By the time the waters subside, everyone except Noah and his family are dead. Noah, along with his family, are a remnant. It seems this is another way God operates, He always preserves a remnant who has been declared righteous by His grace. 

In this scenario, we see three ways God interacts with His creation; grace, His declared righteousness and through a remnant. There's one more crucial lesson about God and His nature. He saves through the righteousness of one man. Noah, as well will see, is not worthy of any of these blessings. He receives them becasue of who God is, not who Noah is. 

With each chapter, God is revealing a little more of His character and nature. We are seeing how He operates and relates to His creation, step by step,