The creation story is amazing. Colossians 1:16 is a great verse to remind us of the what and whys of Creation. “for by Him(God) all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or authorities – all things were created through Him and for Him.”
God gave boundaries. Throughout these first 6 chapters we see God set boundaries for everything in creation. He gave boundaries to man after the fall, for the work week, for the serpent, to Cain after he murdered his brother, and to Noah concerning the animals to be brought to the ark as well as the size of the Ark. These are just a few examples. He has sets boundaries for our good, usually to keep us from doing something foolish or fall into an evil deed.
Secrets or hiding from God, like Adam, Eve and Cain did is very destructive. A secret is not what a pastor holds as a confidence. It is not what is kept because of work, such as I have to do, when I respond to an EMS call. A SECRET is destructive and darkness. It is most often associated with fear and shame. Fear of judgement, loss of friends, and maybe loss of family members. Shame for something that you did or was done to you. Satan will continue to use secrets against you, until is is brought out of darkness and into the light of God. In our reading we will continue to see secrets. Watch for the destruction because of those secrets.
1st John 3:12 tells us why Cain killed his brother. “Not like Cain who was of the evil one and brutally murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his deeds were evil and his bother’s were righteous.” We cannot come to the conclusion that everyone who kills is OF the evil one like Cain. The story of David is one example. His heart was set on covering up his sin and therefore sent his friend to the front line where he was sure to be killed in war. Yet we are told in scripture that he was a man after God’s heart. When confronted with an evil deed, what do you do? Do you repent or do you try to make excuses or reasons why you did it? Titus 3:3 “for we too were once foolish, disobedient, misled, enslaved to various passions and desires, spending our lives in EVIL and envy, hateful and hating one another.” The book of James and 1st Peter are full of verses of how evil can still permeate in our hearts. The alleluia is in Hebrews 8:12 – “for I will be merciful toward their EVIL deeds and their sins I will remember no longer”
Our relationship with God must be one of trust, like Noah’s sons had towards him. They trusted that their father heard from God. As a result, the Ark was built. The question to be asked is, can I build an ark without a good relationship with God?
It is important for us to read scripture, not as a story about others, but of God and His involvement in their lives.