Genesis 4-7

After their fall, Adam and Eve had their first son, Cain, then shortly after Eve gave birth to Abel. Cain and Abel’s work differed in that Abel was a shepherd while Cain tended the produce. Both men brought offerings before the Lord, but Cain’s was not accepted because it was not as in the manner of animal sacrifice. This greatly disturbed Cain to the point of killing his brother for jealousy. It seems that the fall of Adam had continuing consequences to his sons, the first family had already known the first scandal now they will know the first murder. It was apparent the LORD kept some sort of presence with Adam and Eve’s family by the language of 4:16 and assuming there was an appropriate place to offer sacrifices (4:4). This could only be by the foretold atonement work of the Messiah (3:15). It is also apparent that there may have been a healthy population of people by the time Cain was judged. I believe those with meticulous minds may try to force Hebrew literature into chronological story telling. However we know from looking at chapters 1 and 2, Moses doesn’t follow modern chronological story telling guidelines. It is possible that through Adam’s offspring people have populated a good portion of land.
After Seth was born to Adam and Eve, men begin to call on the name of the Lord again. The timing of Seth’s birth doesn’t necessary have to follow the end of Cain’s family tree.

As we read through the family line through Seth, one phrase is clearly repeated, “and he died”. I believe this to be the Author’s way to emphasize the command and consequence of 2:17. God highlights a particular man, Enoch, who “walked” with God in such a way God “took” him, in that he did not experience death. There is no doubt in my mind Enoch’s walk with God was that of faith. (Hebrews 11:5-6)

Sin a wickedness begins to multiply greatly on the earth. To emphasize the events happening, chapter six tells of “sons of God” marrying and having children with the “daughters of men”. (6:2). Commenting on this portion either way, I believe, makes no doctrinal difference when it comes to the main themes to the Bible.  For the sake the reader,  my opinion is what the non-canonical  book of Enoch describes: “sons of God” is reference (a weak one) to angels who inter-married with human women. This view is also the oldest version of events known to us.  Their children, being “giants” and excessively wicked cause God to proclaim their inevitable doom in the form of world wide catastrophic flood. Only one man from Seth’s line, Noah, found favor in God’s eyes, no doubt because his faith in God. As we have seen already, the basis of sin is unbelief and the basis for God favor is faith in Him. So this theme will continue all through the bible until the Gospel of Christ. The ark would mean Noah’s salvation and of the animals, but more important than the ark itself is the careful obedience of Noah in completing it. Directions for one window, one door, certain length, height, width, and what materials to use were all given for Noah to follow.

So Noah completed the ark, and God called for him and his family to come in the ark with the animals. The catastrophic events of that day changed the world forever. Since that day the life span of men are just a fraction of that before the flood. Rain was only half the reason of the flood waters as the earth too had broke open to release waters from the deep. No doubt given the language and the monstrous amount to water to cause a global flood would have scarred the face of the earth beyond recognition of its former days. Assuming much of the water came from the heavens would supposedly mean a drastic change in the atmosphere and pressure. (I personally wonder if Noah and his family felt short of breath for several days after the rains stopped.) Under the great pressures of the flood, all flesh that was not made for the sea drowned and died. (6:22-23)