Genesis Chapters 4-11

Reading Consideration: Describe the increasing alienation of humanity from one another and the increasing alienation between humanity and God (Cain & Abel, Noah’s Flood, and the Tower of Babel; Gen 4, 6-9, 11 respectively)

 

Based on the sequence of events in Genesis chapters 4 through 11, I think that humanity alienates humanity when we fail to realize God as our creator. The alienation from God is what causes the alienation from each other. Before the flood, there was corruption and violence against one another. God brought up the flood because he regretted us, his creation, however; God saw Noah’s faithfulness and obedience to him, was merciful and decided to save humanity (Genesis 6:5-8). Noah’s faithfulness is the only reason for the continuation of human life.

 

Every time someone thought themselves to be more important or knowing than God, things went left. Cain murdered his brother because he believed that he was more deserving of God’s favor. God told Cain “why are though wroth?… If thou does well, shalt thou not be accepted?” (Genesis 4:6-7). Even though God himself told Cain that being good is enough for him, Cain did not accept this. He placed his jealousy above God’s word and murdered his brother. His crime cursed the generations of people that came after him.

 

Being obedient to the Lord is what brings forth blessings. Although many people (Cain’s descendants- Genesis 5:24- and others) held their personal wants above faithfulness to God, it only took Noah for God not only to be merciful and save humanity, but also to create a covenant with man in which he would never again curse humanity as he did with the flood.