Some Thoughts in Genesis
I’ve been reading in Genesis recently, and it is beautiful to see how directly active God was in the lives of people in the early days. God spoke and dealt clearly and directly with man, both those who obeyed and those who did not. Look at how God speaks to Cain, and Cain’s relationship with God was such that he knew what was expected of him. God talks to him, and guides him, even before he kills Abel, then gives him the mercy that he will not be killed, even though he is a murderer. Think also of how God spoke with Adam and Eve, and how Enoch walked with God. So what changed? By the time of Noah, man was wicked and God spoke through Noah. This trend would be continued, as He spoke through the prophets, until the time of His son.
So what has changed? Certainly not God. But how can we expect to hear Him speak if we do not listen. Perhaps Genesis 4:26 is the key, where it points out that men began to call upon the name of the Lord. Noah found favor in the eyes of God, but how could he have found this if he had not sought it. Seek and you will find, knock and it will be open unto you. Seek the Lord in your youth, while He may be found. Seek what? This is eternal life, to know God.
It was mercy that sent Adam and Eve out of the garden after they sinned. It was mercy that blocked them from the tree of life, because it is through death that God saves us. It is through death that God will purify us. His mercy is seen from the very beginning. What a gracious and compassionate God we serve! Seek Him, know Him, and live.