5. Genesis 11:1-9 Tower of Babel

The Tower of Babel is a symbol of man's sinful pride and rebellion, built to satisfy the people's vanity: "Let us make for ourselves a name" Gen. 11:4. The pyramid-like tower was expected to reach heaven. These people were trying to approach God on their own self-serving terms, but they soon learned that the gates of heaven cannot be stormed. Men and woman must approach God in reverence and humility.
The temple was climbed by converging stairways. The uppermost part of the tower was an altar devoted to pagan worship. Thus God intervened to prevent the builders of Babel from partaking of the power and glory that belongs only to Him. Their language was confused and they could no longer communicate to continue building. How weak and small this tower was in comparison to God's great power!


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4. Genesis 8:1-9:17 Covenant with Noah

Only Noah, his wife, his three sons and their wives- eight people- now constitute the population of the world. Noah might have thought that the things provided in the covenant with Adam had now been changed. However,  God establishes a covenant with Noah and the rest of the human race, that not only includes all that is within the Adamic covenant, but now has a notable addition: that of the principle of human government, so that it will never again be necessary to destroy the earth with a flood. The responsibility to populate the earth remains, as well as the subjection of all animals to man. We see that man is now permitted to eat the flesh of animals, but not the blood. The sacredness of ALL human life is established. And a wonderful display of the promise to never again destroy the earth by flood is given with the incredible sign of the rainbow. Every time we see a rainbow, no matter what we may be facing in life, it should be a symbol to us that God is still God and verse 8:22 "while the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night SHALL NOT CEASE. His promises to us are yes and amen and everlasting.

3. Genesis 6:5-7:24 The Flood

It's hard to imagine being told that your family will be the last family which exists and that you will then have to repopulate the earth. It's hard also to imagine having to live in a time when everyone else on the earth was continually evil. But Noah found favor because he was a righteous man and walked with God. God gave him a specific plan, which he didn't question. Noah followed it to a T, which couldn't have been easy. We don't normally get the whole plan for our calling from God but we have to take one step of faith at a time. How much more daunting would it be to know the whole plan at once and be faithful to follow it? How difficult and trying it must have been to be trapped in that ark for almost a year. Yet God's grace is always sufficient. The ark reveals both the necessary judgment and the mercy of God. It is a striking illustration of Christ, Who preserves us from the flood of divine judgment through His amazing GRACE!

2. Genesis 3:1-24 The Fall

The art of deception...Satan takes the form of a serpent to deceive Adam and Eve out of all the blessings of living in Eden and in fellowship with their God. Eve listened to the serpent and examined the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. She gave it to Adam, who was standing right there, yet as the head of the family he said nothing to the serpent. The glory of God was lifted from them and they realized for the first time they are naked. Yet, even in their sin, the Lord brought His presence to them. He always seeks after us. 
Much is lost in this chapter and the beautiful earth is now changed by a curse. But, God ALWAYS has a plan! We see God's gentleness as He clothes His children. And in His great love, He sends them out of the garden, so they do not partake of the tree of life and live forever separated from God. We see the first of many prophecies concerning the coming Messiah. A great plan for their salvation and redemption. A way to bring them back into right-standing with Him. And it will take a SAVIOR, Jesus!

1. Genesis 1:1-2:25 Creation

God's creation is so beautifully detailed and perfectly reflects God's heart. Each day is recorded as the magnificence of His earth and the fullness therein comes to fruition. It's so cool how He made all of it before man, then man, His ultimate creation, was placed right in the middle of it. The earth and its fullness was given to him to simply enjoy and as he cared for it, to reap all of its benefits. It's awesome to realize that God's heart has always been: FAMILY! He longed for children to share His creation with. It's truly amazing to think that God walked and talked with them the same way we would enjoy spending time with our family. What's even MORE amazing is that His heart has never changed! He STILL desires to walk and talk with us and gets pleasure from watching us, His children, reign on earth and enjoy all the benefits of His creation.

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