In the beginning

This section covers Genesis 1:1 to 6:8.

Chapter 1 is the creation for the first 6 days;
Chapter 2 goes into the details of the garden;
Chapter 3 is the temptation and the fall;
Chapter 4 is Cain and Abel, and the birth of Seth;
Chapter 5 is the genealogy from Adam to Noah;
Chapter 6 to v.8 tells of the wickedness on earth;

There's a lot to be said even in the first chapter, especially in the first two verses, but I suppose one can look that up in commentaries and such...


The thing that stuck in this reading for me was in Chapter 4, from v.9-15, where God/Yahweh/Jehovah asks Cain about Abel, and Cain feigns innocence, and Yahweh judges Cain. Cain is cursed and as a result, he goes straight to whine mode; Yahweh has mercy on Cain, and promises safety.

Cain was rightfully cursed, and when he was punished for it, God was still willing to look out after him. When I first looked at it a couple of days ago, it was like, "wow, that's nice, God cut Cain a break..." Completely viewing it in the third person.

Now that I'm back on it, I'm seeing myself feigning innocence, so I can see the need in identifying myself with Cain... I think it's an easy trap for me to see myself more as the one bestowing the grace and mercy, and I become less aware of my need for mercy and grace (i.e. start thinking I'm already perfect).

In fact, I was going into whine mode (too recently) for something trivial, and my feeling of entitlement was completely ruining my day; kind of like shooting myself in the foot and hating myself for it... Then God sweeps in with His grace and mercy, and straightens up my day.

God is good.


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