Genesis 4-7

Start of life outside the Eden garden...

Adam and Eve gave birth to Abel and Cain, who committed the world first murder. I see that men is capable of committing greater and greater sin as they are further away from God. But God still shows him mercy by protecting his life from revenge.

In 4:7, God tells us that pleasing him is none other than doing the right thing. Not doing the right (or sinning) is always a constant "desire" for us but we must remind and "master" ourselves.

Chapter 5 described people with average 700-800 years of lifespan, and giving birth after 100 year-old. That's a long time to think about stuffs, especially for marriage and having kids. You can have literally "marriage of the century". I would really like that: to be able to spend time with the people around you and not rush through things.

Then, we come to Noah the sixth generation descendant of Cain. He had 3 sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. His father Lamech lived 777 years. I wonder if there is any special meanings. Is that just a sign for giving birth to a significant person in God eyes? How does God decide the length of everyone's life? Why not make everyone the same?

People were becoming more and more wicked. "Noah was righteous man, blameless among the people of his name". God went and wipe the earth. He commanded a 40 days rain in Noah's 600th year of age. The water went on and flooded for 150 days.

As much as God wants us to be fruitful, He rather have us to be clean and few than filthy and many. Priorities clearly stated. Doing a right thing is much more important than doing many fancy things.

Tomorrow, another new generation begins. A lot of rebuilding and growing to do after the disaster (reminds me of the New Orlean flood)...