The Mission of God (Week 3) Alienation and Desperation Genesis 4-11 Listen to 16/ric_pratt.Gen1.mp3 Alienation and Desperation Genesis 4-11 Listen to 16/ric_pratt.Gen1.mp3

From Last Week… o God’s mission is his pursuit of relationship  covenant: “God so loved the world.” o The breaking of that covenant inaugurated God’s mission in Genesis 3:15-19: o God breaks humanity’s alliance with Satan and promises his demise through woman’s seed (zara’) o God inserts pain in human relationships and roles. o God’s mission is his pursuit of relationship  covenant: “God so loved the world.” o The breaking of that covenant inaugurated God’s mission in Genesis 3:15-19: o God breaks humanity’s alliance with Satan and promises his demise through woman’s seed (zara’) o God inserts pain in human relationships and roles.

From Last Week… o One story of the Bible is enclosed between the bookends of Genesis 1-3 and Revelation’s final chapters o Those themes form a worldview 1. Where are we? (what is the nature of the world around us?) 2. Who are we? (What is the nature of humanity?) 3. What’s gone wrong? (Why is the world in such a mess?) 4. What is the solution? (What can be done about it?) o One story of the Bible is enclosed between the bookends of Genesis 1-3 and Revelation’s final chapters o Those themes form a worldview 1. Where are we? (what is the nature of the world around us?) 2. Who are we? (What is the nature of humanity?) 3. What’s gone wrong? (Why is the world in such a mess?) 4. What is the solution? (What can be done about it?)

Richard Pratt’s Message o Our conception of humanity “sinners” “insignificant” o Humanity’s kingly role image of God / have dominion o Humanity’s priestly role “work and care for the earth” o Our conception of humanity “sinners” “insignificant” o Humanity’s kingly role image of God / have dominion o Humanity’s priestly role “work and care for the earth”

Structure of Genesis 4-6:8 (from Richard Pratt: 4:1-5:32Early Violence and Hope Two Narratives 4:1-16: Narrative: Cain kills Abel 4:25-26 Narrative: Eve bears Seth (seed v25) Two Genealogies 4:17-24: Cain’s descendants 5:1-32: Seth’s descendants (image of Adam v 3) 6:1-8: Later Violence and Hope 4:1-5:32Early Violence and Hope Two Narratives 4:1-16: Narrative: Cain kills Abel 4:25-26 Narrative: Eve bears Seth (seed v25) Two Genealogies 4:17-24: Cain’s descendants 5:1-32: Seth’s descendants (image of Adam v 3) 6:1-8: Later Violence and Hope

Compare Enoch’s Enoch (4:17) o Descendant of Cain o Ancestor of Lamach o City named after him (recalls Egypt) Enoch (4:17) o Descendant of Cain o Ancestor of Lamach o City named after him (recalls Egypt) Enoch (5:21-23) o Descendant of Seth o Fathered Methuselah o “walked with God and was not for God took Him.” (nb “and he died.”)

Comparing Lamach’s Lamach (4:23-24) o Polygamist o Killed (a young man) o Presumes on God’s protection and multiplies it for himself Lamach (4:23-24) o Polygamist o Killed (a young man) o Presumes on God’s protection and multiplies it for himself Lamach (5:28-29) o Fathered Noah o Names his son through prayer for “relief.”

More Violence (Gen 6:1-8) o 6:2 “took any they chose…” o The Nephilim 1. Angels marry women 2. Sethites (sons of God) marry Cainite women 3. Rulers forcefully marry (i.e. violate) peasants o Result: immediate limitation of age o The Lord was grieved and determined to blot mankind out. o 6:2 “took any they chose…” o The Nephilim 1. Angels marry women 2. Sethites (sons of God) marry Cainite women 3. Rulers forcefully marry (i.e. violate) peasants o Result: immediate limitation of age o The Lord was grieved and determined to blot mankind out.

Fall Gen 3:15-16 proto-evangel Blame & Shame 3:10-12 Eve- Mother 3:20 Skins 3:21 Son-Cain: Gen 4:1 Cain murders 4:14-16 Justice & Mercy 4:9f Cain protected & fruitful 4:15, 17 Enoch & Lamech 4:17, 23 Birth of Seth Enoch & Lamech 5:24,29 Sons of God Marriage Violence But Noah 6:8 Cov of Preservation 8:20-9:17 Drunken Shame 9:20f Babel Abraham 12:1f

Implications o The introduction to God’s mission (Gen 1-11) portrays humanity in deep brokenness and alienation from God o We observe God fending off destruction through his graceful interventions. o The flood story depicts God’s preservation of His world despite humanity’s downward spiral of violence and abuse. o The “seed of the woman” is the embryo of hope for creation. o The introduction to God’s mission (Gen 1-11) portrays humanity in deep brokenness and alienation from God o We observe God fending off destruction through his graceful interventions. o The flood story depicts God’s preservation of His world despite humanity’s downward spiral of violence and abuse. o The “seed of the woman” is the embryo of hope for creation.

Looking Back at This Week… o Reflection on Class 3: o Genesis 11 ends with humanity having tried to build its own city which came to be known as Babel. Compare and contrast this city with the heavenly Jerusalem we read about last week in Revelation 21 and 22. o Reflection on Class 3: o Genesis 11 ends with humanity having tried to build its own city which came to be known as Babel. Compare and contrast this city with the heavenly Jerusalem we read about last week in Revelation 21 and 22.

Looking Ahead to Next Week… Reflection in Preparation for Class 4: o Skim Genesis 12 through Exodus 24. Note the times when God appears or speaks to the Patriarchs or to Moses directly. Be alert to what these occurrences teach us about the mission of God. o Read John 8: This is Jesus’ confrontation with the Jews. What is the Jews’ claim to relationship with Abraham? How does Jesus view this? What is the nature of Jesus’ relationship to Abraham? o Be prepared to discuss how God’s mission is portrayed through the plagues of Exodus As a hint, note to whom God is speaking when he says “by this you shall know that I am the Lord.” Reflection in Preparation for Class 4: o Skim Genesis 12 through Exodus 24. Note the times when God appears or speaks to the Patriarchs or to Moses directly. Be alert to what these occurrences teach us about the mission of God. o Read John 8: This is Jesus’ confrontation with the Jews. What is the Jews’ claim to relationship with Abraham? How does Jesus view this? What is the nature of Jesus’ relationship to Abraham? o Be prepared to discuss how God’s mission is portrayed through the plagues of Exodus As a hint, note to whom God is speaking when he says “by this you shall know that I am the Lord.”