Daily Encouragement Day 3—Genesis 4

From Handbook to Scripture, Day 3

READING: GENESIS 4

Meditation Passage: verses 25–26

The fall in Genesis 3 immediately had ripple effects. Rebellion against God’s good and loving purposes distorted our relationships with God, with ourselves, with others, and with the created order. The barrier with God changed us and produced internal and external conflicts, and the murder of Abel by his brother Cain is a prototype of the hostility and social degeneration caused by the pride and selfishness of sin. Although the line of godly Abel was cut off, God replaced him with Seth and his descendants. It would be through this godly line that the ancestors of the Messiah would spring forth.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You that Your Word reveals not only the depth of human sin and iniquity, but also the height of Your love and gracious purposes. Help me remember that sin and disobedience is always destructive, and that righteousness and obedience to You is always creative and life-giving.