Genesis 4-7 Devotional (Daily Bible Reading for January 2 (Day 2))
Genesis 4-7 Reading in the English Standard Version or the New International Version.
Summary
Multiplication
Eve bore Adam Cain and Abel
Eve bore Adam, Cain, a worker of the ground, and Abel, a keeper of sheep (Genesis 4:1-2).
Cain and Abel offered their produce to God
After some time, Cain offered fruits to God, while Abel offered the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions (Genesis 4:3-4a). God, therefore, regarded Abel’s offering, and not Cain’s (Genesis 4:4b-5a).
Cain, consequently, became angry and sad (Genesis 4:5b). God, therefore, asked him why he was angry and sad, and told him that if he had done well, he would have been accepted (Genesis 4:6-7a). He also told him that if he didn’t do well, sin, which he had to rule over, was waiting for him (Genesis 4:7b).
Cain killed his brother Abel
Nevertheless, Cain killed his brother when they were in the field (Genesis 4:8). And when God asked him where his brother was, he responded that he wasn’t the keeper of his brother (Genesis 4:9).
So, God asked Cain what he had done because Abel’s blood was crying to Him from the ground (Genesis 4:10). And He cursed him from the ground, so that when he worked it, it would no longer yield to him its strength, and He also declared him a fugitive and wanderer (Genesis 4:11-12).
Cain, consequently, lamented to God that his punishment was greater than he could bear (Genesis 4:13-14). So, God told him that He would avenge anyone who would kill him, and He, therefore, marked him (Genesis 4:15). And Cain left the presence of God and settled in the land of Nod, which was east of Eden (Genesis 4:16).
Cain built a city
Finally, Cain had Enoch and built a city in his name (Genesis 4:17). He also had descendants through him (Genesis 4:18-24).
Eve bore Adam Seth
Additionally, Eve bore Adam Seth. Seth, in turn, had Enosh, through whom Adam had descendants up to Noah, who fathered Shem, Ham, and Japheth (Genesis 4:25-5:32).
Flood
Man multiplied in numbers and wickedness
Sadly, as man multiplied and daughters were born to them, the sons of God found them attractive and took them as their wives (Genesis 6:1-2). God then limited the days of man to 120 years (Genesis 6:3). And the Nephilim were on earth even as the sons of God had children who became mighty men (Genesis 6:4).
Furthermore, God saw that the wickedness of man was great because every intention of the thoughts of his heart was continually evil (Genesis 6:5). He was, therefore, sorry and aggrieved for creating man (Genesis 6:6). So He decided to blot out man from the face of the earth, with the exception of Noah, who found favor in His eyes because he was righteous (Genesis 6:7-10).
God commanded Noah to make an ark
God saw that the earth was corrupt and filled with violence because every man’s way was corrupted (Genesis 6:11-12). The Lord God, therefore, told Noah that He would end all flesh together with the earth (Genesis 6:13). He, therefore, commanded him to make an ark of wood according to His instructions because He was going to flood the earth with water to destroy everything on earth (Genesis 6:14-17).
The Lord God also told Noah that He would establish a covenant with him and, thus, instructed him to enter the ark with his sons, wife, and daughters-in-law, the male and female of every kind of living thing, and food for all of them (Genesis 6:18-21). And Noah obeyed, so that 7 days to the 40-day flood, he entered the ark as God had instructed him, together with the pairs of living things, and then God shut the ark (Genesis 6:22-7:23).
Key/Memory Verse from Genesis 4-7 Reading
- Genesis 4:1 (ESV) Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.”
Commentary on Genesis 4-7 Reading
God’s will is supreme
Genesis 4-7 Reading opens with the record of how Adam and Eve multiplied in obedience to God’s command in Genesis 1-3, that is, Genesis 4:1-2 versus Genesis 1:26-28. Because God’s kingdom is a realm where His commands are received by man and loyally obeyed.
Unfortunately, as man increased in numbers (Genesis 4:17-24 and 4:25-5:32), he also increased in disobedience (corruption). And because God’s will is supreme in His kingdom, Cain was punished (judged) for killing his brother Abel (Genesis 4:11-12), and man was punished for having increased corruption (Genesis 6:7-10 and 6:13).
Man pays homage to God
Additionally, Genesis 4-7 Reading, particularly Genesis 4:4-5, reveals that Cain and Abel made their offerings to God. Therefore, the Lord God deserves the homage (respect and honor) of man because He is their/our King.
God also deserves thanksgiving because He providentially cares for and protects man. He enabled Cain and Abel to realize produce from their work in His kingdom and protected Cain from harm.
Prayer
Lord God, I submit myself to You and Your will over my life. I declare that You are King over all creation.
Therefore, I pray that You show and teach me Your ways so that I may walk in them. In so doing, I pray that I will glorify You and find favor before You here on earth.
I, therefore, respect and honor You as my King. And I pray this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Daily Bible Verse
Philippians 4:19 (see How to Read the Bible in One Year or How to Read the Bible (for Beginners))
