In seminary I took a course on Genesis 1-11. The professor was one of my favorite, a bit overly emotional at times. But passionate about his work and he passed on to me a love for the material in the Old Testament.
The course was advertised as Genesis 1-11, but it became clear we wouldn’t get that far into the text. Most of the ten weeks were given over to Genesis 1-3.
The lectionary is moving me through these chapters of the first book of my Bible. This morning, as I was reading Genesis 4:17-26 I remembered how much there is in these pages which is so often read and forgotten.
After the death of Abel, Cain moves away from Adam and Eve. He establishes a home the land of Nod. He marries and begins to form a family. It is his descendants (5 generations later) who take up various trades and begin the tasks which distinguish one tribe from another.
After all this is reported, Genesis returns to share with us that Adam and Eve become parents once more, giving birth to Seth.
During the devotional at LCM last night, Smith shared his thoughts regarding the diversity of the world’s people and how each person chooses their own particular approach to God. “It is the same God whom they seek,” he said.
The 4th chapter of Genesis goes a step further; we begin to see the traits and the characteristics which divide us, all within the same family. We are enemies, destined to be at each others necks, we are children of the same ancestor.
Much is to be learned from this simple lesson in a chapter of our Bibles we might not see highlighted. We are family, even as we spread across the face of the earth; even as we adopt differing traditions and customs. Surely it pleases God when we remember this and act accordingly.
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