A. Overall Lesson Objective

B. Learning Competencies

C. Lesson

Using our analogy from the beginning of the study, God is the Master Chef who makes the universe, including the earth. The resulting special dish, in our analogy, is ‘very good’ at the beginning, but rebellion and disobedience act like a poison. Just as poison can affect a large quantity of food or water, sin and its consequences affect all of God’s creation. Genesis 4, 5 and 6:1-4 show the consequences of sin among the first generations. Sin now inhabits the heart and soul of all people. We are the same ‘kind,’ made of the same flesh, and have the same lineage. However, the situation does not stabilize; it becomes worse. Not only is creation changed forever, but the rapidly exploding population forgets God and terrible things begin to happen.

Note: Remember that the first people, Adam and Eve, including their genetic code, were pronounced “good” before the Fall. Likewise, the grand array of creatures in the seas, land, and air were clearly defined as “good”. Originally, the animals ate only plants, not each other (Genesis 1:30). [Research note: how did bad things come about?] But death, disease and suffering have now entered the universe as a consequence of sin. The ramifications of God’s pronouncement have affected living creatures, the toil required to do anything, the birth process, and relationships. Corruption continues. It affects everything. At the top of the list for effects is death itself.

Nevertheless, God’s command from Genesis 1 to multiply and fill the earth has not been retracted. There are no rules at this point about a marriage between brother and sister. Today, marrying close relatives is both unlawful and likely to lead to major deformities in the offspring. But those deformities come from the large number of harmful copying mistakes (mutations) we carry in our genetic code. These accumulate with each generation. They normally cause only problems if we inherit the same mistake from both parents. Usually the ‘good’ gene (instructions) from one parent covers up the mistake from the other. But if one has the same parents as one’s spouse, one risks inheriting many of the same mistakes from both parents, and deformities result. However, in Adam and Eve’s immediate descendants, the genetic code is still very near the original condition of “very good,” so there is no such biological risk yet. Even Abraham, centuries after the Flood, is still able to marry his half-sister Sarah, and there is no hint of any deformity in Isaac. Nor has Abraham broken God’s law against such intermarriage, because it is centuries later in the time of Moses that God closes the door to not just brother-sister but even half-sibling marriages. That makes complete sense when we realize that the more time passes, the more the mutations build up in the population. By starting all mankind with one pair, it is inevitable that there will be all sorts of closely related marriages in these early generations. [Research note: Cain’s wife.]

The population rapidly increases and cities are mentioned before long. Technological developments and manufacturing specialties are mentioned. The physical and technical development, however, is accompanied by other things that are not good. All the while, the Master Chef not only observes men in these chapters, He is a personal witness to some of the events, and He records those instances for us. His dish, so to speak, remains poisoned, but conditions continue to deteriorate. The effects of the Fall on Adam and Eve’s children and their children rapidly produce an evil culture. Remember, He is the Perfect Overseer with a perfect sense and understanding of quality control. We will see that the situation in those early generations leads to His deliberate plan to destroy living things on earth.

Read Genesis 4 and 5. As instructed by the teacher, a board or large paper will be used to make four columns. On the left column, the class will put sections of verses that pertain to an event or group of events. In the second column, put a short title that represents a summary of each section of verses. In the third column, list who is present for each group of verses. In the fourth column, put a few notes about what happens in those verses. When this is complete, answer the questions that are listed below. Some can probably be answered from the board or paper notes. To answer some others, verses will have to be checked.

🦕 CT? Questions on the events leading up to Noah with answers from Genesis 4 and 5:

D. Assignment

Read Genesis 6. Note every verse where God, the Master Overseer, assesses the state of mankind.

E. Learning Activity

Using the information in 4:1-16, list the individual actions that occur that lead to and follow the murder of Abel. In other words, describe the sequence of events in terms of who, when, what, and where. (This can be done as a class, teams, or individuals.) Now, compare the actions and attitude of this one man to what has become of the culture in general as defined by 6:1-4.

F. Concluding Assessment