The Next Chapter - God's Big Picture, Ch 2

Right off the bat, in ch 2 of our book, there in the Garden, we see another pattern that will repeat itself throughout the Scriptures, indeed through the history of mankind. Evil comes in the distortion of the word of God accompanied by faulty interpretations of it. The serpent misquotes the word, the woman embellishes it. The man joins in.

Ultimately, the woman and the man fall victim to their own inner desires, seeking to fulfill themselves by doing exactly the opposite of what God says. Another pattern is revealed, that of man acting on his desire to be in control and be self-satisfied, apart from God. Disaster ensues and sin enters into creation. 

The serpent is part of creation, part of what God has already declared as "good". Did God create evil? The text doesn't say.  However, and perhaps more importantly, what is revealed is that all creation is under God's sovereign authority. This is made clear when the curses for disobedience are pronounced. The man, the woman and the serpent are subject to the commands and judgment of God. None are exempt, none are beyond, none can contest.

With the advent of sin, the harmony of creation is destabilized. First we see tension between the man and woman (Gen 3:12-13). Afterward, we see murder and lies (Gen 4:8-9). Eventually, the depraved, self-centered

nature of man taints everything and God judges the human race, wiping it out with a flood, save a precious few (Noah and family), whom God declares righteous (Gen 6). In this we see yet another pattern that will repeat itself; God always preserves a remnant. 

However, man's nature is not changed by the flood. Noah gets drunk and behaves poorly. Other behaviors, revealing the ongoing fallen nature of man, continue to multiply. Nonetheless, God blesses, replenishing the earth. 

Man continues to reveal his fallen nature and his desire to supplant God by attempting to build a tower that will reach to heaven. God, instead of wiping mankind out, mercifully scatters him and varying his languages and preventing him for  bringing annihilation upon the human race. 

• Do you see the same patterns of God's character mentioned above? Are there others?
• Some people believe that man continues to improve and get better. What have we seen, so far, in Scripture that might support or deny that concept?
• What do we learn about evil in ch 2 & 3?
• Did you learn anything new from this chapter?

The exercises at the and of each chapter are thought provoking. It would be helpful to spend a few minutes pondering them.

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