A sermon in a story form which describes in details with biblical and real world examples, the chapters 1 to 9

Draft a sermon in a story form which describes in details with biblical and real world examples, the chapters 1 to 9

Good morning/afternoon, everyone. Let us turn our attention this morning/afternoon to the very beginning of the Bible, the book of Genesis. Genesis is known as the book of beginnings. It tells us about the creation of the world, the early history of humanity, and the origins of the Jewish people. The first eleven chapters cover what is often called the "primeval history", setting the stage for everything that follows.

Today, I want us to journey through this ancient story, from the creation in chapters 1 and 2, through the challenges and consequences in chapters 3 and 4, and ultimately to the remarkable story of Noah and the covenant God made in chapters 6 through 9. As we listen, let us remember that this is not just history; this is a story about us. It confronts us with who we are in relation to God and reveals fundamental truths about the human condition.

The story opens with the creation of the world. The book of Genesis actually presents us with two creation narratives in its first two chapters. While they differ in focus and style, placed together, they offer a profound picture of God's work and purpose. The first account, in Genesis 1, focuses on God as the majestic Creator, bringing order out of chaos through His powerful word. It emphasizes God setting boundaries and limits throughout creation – between light and darkness, water and dry land, and distinguishing between different kinds of plants and animals. This account portrays creation as deliberate and purposeful, done by God alone.

The second account, starting in Genesis 2, shifts its focus to humanity. It highlights that creation is not complete without mankind, emphasizing the close relationship between humanity and the earth; the man (Hebrew adam) is formed from the ground (Hebrew adamah). This account underscores the responsibility given to humans to care for God’s world, to "till the ground" and keep it. Humanity is placed at the heart of this part of the creation story. It affirms the dignity and worth of this creature made from dust, noting that life itself is a gift from God. God prepares a special place, the Garden of Eden, for the man, giving him freedom to eat from any tree in the garden.

But, this freedom is not absolute; there is a limit, a boundary. God forbids the man from eating from one specific tree, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, with a clear consequence: "in the very day that you eat of it you shall die". As we hear this, we might ask, "Why boundaries?" The story doesn't explicitly answer, but it presents the fact of God’s boundaries as part of His established order. It is a test of whether humanity will recognise these limits and live within them. The story also introduces the creation of community, as God provides the woman for the man, establishing companionship and harmonious relationships. At the end of this section, the couple are described as naked and unashamed, symbolising their comfort, self-acceptance, and harmonious relationships with each other, with God, and with the world. This state is captured by the later Hebrew term shalom, meaning peace or well-being.

However, the story takes a dramatic turn in Genesis chapter 3. The serpent is introduced, described as a deceptive creature or trickster. The woman engages in dialogue with the serpent, and in quoting God’s command, she subtly distorts it. The serpent then directly challenges God’s word and offers a tempting promise: that eating the forbidden fruit will make them "like God, knowing good and evil". This taps into a deep human desire for autonomy, for freedom from restrictions, for choosing our own way with no consequences. The woman looks at the fruit, sees that it is desirable, and eats it, sharing it with the man, who also eats.

This act is called the "Fall" in Christianity. It's interpreted as a transition from innocent obedience to guilty disobedience. Scholars note that this story reflects the human tendency towards autonomy and self-satisfaction, a "perversion of this gift" of freedom. Once they eat, their eyes are opened, and they immediately feel shame over their nakedness. The nakedness that once symbolised harmony now signifies shame and guilt due to their disobedience. They attempt to cover themselves, a symbol of human efforts to deal with guilt. When God comes seeking them, they hide, afraid because they are naked. When confronted, the man blames the woman and subtly blames God, and the woman blames the serpent. This shows how disobedience disrupts not only their relationship with God but also their relationships with each other, leading to mistrust and blaming.

The source notes that in this story, God does not immediately impose external judgment; the chaos begins with the couple themselves, suggesting sin brings its own consequences because of how God’s ordered world is structured. The doctrine of the Fall is closely related to the concept of original sin in mainstream Christianity, which holds that humanity inherited a corrupt nature from Adam and Eve. However, other traditions, like Judaism and Islam, interpret the Eden narrative differently and do not hold the concept of "original sin" in the same way. In Islam, Adam and Eve were misled by Iblīs (the Devil) but asked for forgiveness, and God bestowed mercy upon them. The narrative is seen by some as illustrating how humans sin, repent, and return to God.

The story in Genesis 3 concludes with God pronouncing consequences, often called curses, on the serpent, the woman, and the man. These curses affect their relationship with the world itself, making work toilsome and childbirth painful. The ground is cursed, reflecting how sin disrupts the very fabric of creation. The story also includes a hint of future conflict between humanity and the serpent. Finally, God expels Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden to prevent them from eating from the tree of life and living forever in their fallen state. They must now live "East of Eden", in a world disrupted by their own choices.

The story of sin's spread continues in Genesis chapter 4 with Cain and Abel. They are the first two sons born to Adam and Eve. Cain is a farmer, and Abel is a shepherd. In time, they both bring offerings to God. God accepts Abel's offering but not Cain's. The sources discuss the reasons for this difference in acceptance. Abel's offering was an animal sacrifice, and he brought the "best portions". More significantly, Abel had the proper motivation and heart attitude, based on faith. The Apostle John later states that Cain's actions were evil, stemming from belonging to "the evil one," while Abel's were righteous. God warns Cain that sin is "crouching at the door" but that he must master it. However, Cain does not heed the warning. Consumed by anger and jealousy, he murders his brother Abel in the field. This is the first murder recorded on Earth, an archetype of fratricide that has resonated throughout literature and art.

God confronts Cain about Abel's absence, to which Cain famously replies, "Am I my brother's keeper?". God then pronounces a curse upon Cain, sentencing him to a life of wandering. Cain settles in the land of Nod, east of Eden, builds a city, and his lineage continues. Some scholars suggest this story might reflect the ancient conflict between nomadic shepherds and settled farmers, or the broader development of civilization and agriculture.

As generations pass (summarised by the genealogies in chapter 5), humanity's wickedness increases. Genesis 6 describes the spread of human sin and the presence of the Nephilim, leading God to decide to destroy humanity. However, one man, Noah, is found to be righteous and blameless. God chooses to spare him and his family.

God instructs Noah to build an ark and take examples of all animals, seven pairs of clean animals and one pair of unclean, along with his family. The narrative of the Flood in Genesis 6-9 is complex, leading many scholars to view it as a combination of different sources. It details the torrential rain (for 40 days and nights in one account) and the waters rising, covering the earth and destroying all life outside the ark. After the waters recede, Noah sends out birds, first a raven and then a dove, to check conditions. The ark comes to rest on Mount Ararat, and after a year, the earth is dry.

Upon leaving the ark, Noah builds an altar and offers sacrifices to God. God responds by making a solemn promise and establishing a covenant. He promises never again to destroy all life on Earth with a flood. The sign of this everlasting covenant is the rainbow in the clouds. This covenant is made not just with Noah and his descendants, but with every living creature and the earth itself. It is a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness. As one person reflected, seeing a rainbow is a visible sign that God remembers His covenant and keeps His promises, bringing comfort even in the storms of life.

After the Flood and the covenant, the narrative records Noah planting a vineyard, becoming drunk, and his son Ham's sin in seeing his father uncovered. While the exact nature of Ham's offense is debated, his disrespect leads Noah to curse Ham's son Canaan. This episode, even after such a catastrophic judgment, shows that humanity's tendency toward sin persists. Some see in the descendants of Ham, such as Canaan and Egypt, the seeds of future conflicts and enemies of God's chosen people. Yet, even in this post-flood world, the Noahic covenant remains in force.

Scholars view the Noahic covenant as serving both a universal purpose, preserving the created order, and a particular or redemptive purpose. It explains why fallen humanity continues to exist alongside God's people until the end times. It "renders two kingdoms," the kingdom of God and the kingdom of man, whose antithesis began in Genesis 3:15. The ongoing existence of nations, for example, can be seen as an outworking of this covenant, stemming from God's action at the Tower of Babel, separating the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent. Going against the created order, such as in matters of gender and sexuality, is seen as breaking this covenant and leads to devastating consequences, as some tragically experience today.

Moreover, the Old Testament often points back to the Noahic covenant to highlight God's faithfulness and anticipate the greater glory of the new covenant in Christ. Just as Noah and his family found refuge in the ark from God's judgment, Jesus Christ is presented as the ultimate source of deliverance from God's wrath. The story of the ark serves as a "type" or foreshadowing, pointing forward to baptism and the salvation found in Christ. Through Jesus, believers find refuge and enter into God's favour.

So, what do these early chapters of Genesis teach us? They show us God's immense power and purpose in creation. They reveal the dignity and responsibility bestowed upon humanity. Crucially, they highlight the reality and destructive nature of sin – the choice to live autonomously outside of God's boundaries, leading to broken relationships, shame, guilt, blame, chaos, and ultimately, death.

But even amidst the darkness of human sin and its consequences, these chapters also shine a brilliant light on God's character. We see His mercy and grace in not immediately executing the death penalty on Adam and Eve, instead providing them with a covering. We see His enduring patience and commitment to creation in the Noahic covenant, promising never to destroy the world by flood again and giving the rainbow as a visible pledge. And we see the unfolding of His plan of salvation, foreshadowed even in these early narratives, pointing forward to the ultimate deliverance found in Jesus Christ.

Like Adam and Eve, like Cain, like the generations before the flood, we too face the temptation to live autonomously, to ignore God's boundaries, to prioritize our own desires over His will. But the story reminds us that this path leads to disruption and separation. Yet, like Noah, who found favour with God, we are offered God's grace. Through Jesus, the true "ark" of salvation, we can find refuge from God's judgment and be reconciled to Him.

The question for us today is: Will we continue to grasp for the forbidden fruit of autonomy, or will we trust in God's love and grace, choosing to live within His life-giving boundaries? The story of Genesis 1-9 is our story, and it calls us to respond to the God of creation, justice, mercy, and covenant.

Amen.