Monday: The Fall and the Flood
Almost every school child has heard the story about an apple falling on Isaac Newton’s head, and Voila! Newton discovered gravity. Whether or not an apple really fell on his head isn’t the crucial point; instead, the point is that Newton’s great insight (he didn’t discover gravity either; anyone who fell down already knew about gravity) was to understand that the same force that dropped the apple (gravity) also kept the moon in orbit around the earth, the earth in orbit around the Sun, and so forth.
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This was important because, for millennia, many people believed that the laws that governed the heavens were different from the laws that governed the earth. Newton showed that this belief was wrong.
And though Newton’s contribution was in the area of natural law, the same principle holds true with moral law. The same freedom, the freedom inherent in love, that led to Lucifer’s fall in heaven led to humanity’s Fall on earth, as well.
Read Genesis 2.16-17 and Genesis 3:1-7. How do these verses about perfect people, in a perfect environment, created by a perfect God, also reveal the powerful truth about the freedom inherent in love?
After the Fall, things went from bad to worse, even to the point where the Lord said about humanity “that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). And if their thoughts were bad, their actions surely were, as well, until things got so evil that the Lord destroyed the entire world with a Flood — in a sense giving humanity a chance to start over, a kind of second creation. However, as the story of the Tower of Babel shows (Genesis 11:1-9), humanity still seemed intent on defying God. “When the tower had been partially completed, a portion of it was occupied as a dwelling place for the builders; other apartments, splendidly furnished and adorned, were devoted to their idols. The people rejoiced in their success, and praised the gods of silver and gold, and set themselves against the Ruler of heaven and earth.” — Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 119. Thus, besides confusing their language, God scattered the fallen race across the face of the earth.
| Take a mental note of your thoughts throughout the day. What does this teach you about the state of your own heart? |
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In my childhood one of our great sources of culinary delight was our home orchard. We had half a dozen apple trees as well as peaches, plums, nectarines, oranges, and lemons. When the apples were fully formed but not ripe they were picked and put in the cool store. This was not one of your high-tech, atmosphere-controlled cool stores, but simply a cool dark concrete room under the water-tank. The apples slowly ripened over a period of several weeks, providing us with "fresh" apples well into the winter months. One of our tasks as a child was to go through the boxes of apples to check if any of them were going rotten. it was an important job because we knew that one rotten apple could easily taint the flavour of the whole box of apples. So if we didn't want to eat funny-tasting apples we had to be very thorough in checking through the apple boxes to get rid of the rotten apples.
Sin of course entered into our world and was not content in just rotting its first contact. It sent its taint right through creation, not only at that time but right through history until the present time. It became the ultimate pandemic, spreading its taint of selfishness and pride through the whole of humanity, and affecting even the animal and plant world with disease, and suffering. Sin is not a game. It is part of the fabric of living for us here on this earth. And even those of us who claim the hope of salvation know full well that we still have to contend with the result of sin. We don't have an exemption from suffering.
The lesson authors are taking a bit of time to get to Deuteronomy. Perhaps the reason for this is that Deuteronomy is partly an historical review of what the Children of Israel had been doing for the last 40 years, wandering in the wilderness. They were where they were as the result of sin.
Does the Biblical flood story employ the hyperbole throughout, describing a massive ark which holds representatives of “every living creature on Earth”, and a flood which flows over the tops of the highest mountains in the world. Are these not meant to challenge readers to figure out the practicality of such descriptions,or, rather they are important clues that we are dealing with a theological story rather than ancient journalism?
Simeon Ogutu: am I understanding you to be in doubt of the reality of the worldwide flood record of Genesis 6,7,8?
Proposing it to be theological but not journalism? 2 Peter 3:1-10
Once again the lesson author presents further principles we need to draw upon when using our 'mental-map' to interpret ("rightly divide" 2 Tim 2:15) God's Word of Truth.
Principles from today's lesson:
a) Natural law and God's moral law operate on the same principle - they are both cause-and-effect constants. Galatians 6:7,8 directly talks about this. Paul parallels Galatians 6:8 in Romans 8:2 where he outlines the two most fundamental of these cause-and-effect constants: the law of the Spirit of Life and the law of sin and death. When we get to Deuteronomy 30:15-20 we see that God, via Moses instructions, has been outlining exactly the same two laws/principles/constants.
b) While man looks on the outward appearance, God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7) because the condition of the heart is what underpins and therefore drives our attitudes, thoughts and behaviours (see Proverbs 4:23; Matthew 7:16-18). Every person will have one of two heart orientations: self-giving other-benefiting love or self-seeking self-indulgence. The first will lead to/result in life, the second can only lead to/result in destruction (as per Genesis 6:5).
c) Love cannot be coerced. Therefore love gives and respects freedom. Each person is free to develop a heart of self-seeking if they choose. But because of the law of sin and death, that choice can only ever lead to inherent destruction.
Again, it is vital to keep these principles in mind as we explore Deuteronomy and therefore I commend the author of today's lesson for drawing them to our attention at the outset.
Hi Brother Phil, your link for Deuteronomy 30:15 went awry; but those verses are so good, I thought I would copy it here for all of us:
Deuteronomy 30:15-20, New King James Version
"15 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil,
16 in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess.
17 But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them,
18 I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess.
19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;
20 that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”"
Thank you for sharing this (or reminding) with us. Be blessed!
Psalm 139:13-18KJV - - - Laws define life - all of life - all that exists and is, visible and invisible, is governed by heaven's laws. The brain's functions are established by laws just as the earth itself; everything functions according to the Creator's laws based on His Love and Justice, being calibrated/tempered by His Wisdom through Mercy and Grace.
But what about the mind of man and beings created by God though living in heaven? As I see it, the mind is not 'created' in the way material things are created; its content is the accumulation/result of one's observations, impressions and choices in connection with the heart. It is formed by the desires of the heart; they form the mind's thoughts sponsoring actions - James 1:14-16. This is how I understand the Scripture explaining the mind - heart connection.
I believe, this is the very reason why God places the *Love OF Him* at the highest place of importance for all who use their mind to choose *value* to help guide their life.
All heavenly sourced teachings point to the importance of assessing the matters of the heart - love, hate, lies, deception, covetousness etc. This is why the Father's plan of Salvation changes the heart/mind of the willing believer first, because the actions will follow.
When I consider the influence of a caring, conscientious person's heart on the mind's decision making power - our will -, it is easy to understand why the Father strongly admonishes us to guard it so no destructive influences can take hold. We are to guard against all influences undermining the spiritual health of the heart-mind connection of the believer in Christ Jesus - Prov.4:23; Phil.4:8.
'The powerful truth about the freedom inherent in love'!
Psalm 51:10; Rom.12:2; Luke 6:45; Matt.5:8.
Hi Brigitte
You have outlined some of the important intersections between (a) the internal operations of our mind, (b) the external (to our mind) realities of God and the ways of His Kingdom and (c) our attitudes, thoughts and behaviours.
Phil - thank you for sharing your thoughts. My hope is that all believers come to a more complete understanding of how God's mysterious, marvelous Love works as it restores true life to us.
I am convinced that this deeper understanding brings about a more ready and willing, more earnest, more complete love of Him.
The more we love Him - appreciate Him and are deeply grateful for Him loving us in such a way -, the more His love will bring about oneness and peace with/in Him!
Sister Brigitte,
In your initial response and also your response to Phil, your expression of the heart/mind response to God's invitation in the expression "Love Of Him" is powerful both internally as well as the expression in thought, work and deed externally. The fullness of that love leads naturally to external expressions that the world both desires yet also hates. May that indwelling Spirit of love unity us in this time of earth's history to share that love as did those before us, in Spirit and Truth. God's blessing of peace and rest in His love be with us as we fearlessly share with our neighbors.
Yes, brother Alfred! Living, expressing faithfully our love of God, is placing us at the front lines of the battle against doubt born of fear, so giving opportunity to be the living example of God's power over fear and doubt through the exchange of Love.
Wow, this is getting to the heart of the matter, isn’t it! Not made any easier by knowing Jer. 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”
The most heart-searching question for me is: HOW… how do I “love the Lord with all my heart, soul and strength (Deut6:5)”? What does that look like?
Does obedience engender love for God? I believe the converse is the truth – knowing/seeing God’s love for me engenders obedience, repentance, love. It’s the reason Jesus spent the time in the wilderness, seeking His Father’s presence and bathing in His love – to strengthen for the task ahead.
It’s also inherent in the messages of every messenger who arose – calling God’s people back to God by asking them to “Seek Him… seek His face… not His hands…” more than 50 times in Scripture. There-in is my daily challenge, and my daily joy.
Thanks, Anne. I think it goes both ways: Love expresses itself in obedience, but as we obey Him in serving others, we learn to love Him more. The Bill Gaither song expresses it well:
Of course, it's even better if you hear the tune while reading the words, as I hear it in my head. 😊
Ann - thank you for sharing your thoughts. Yes, desiring to live by the Faith of our Savior Christ Jesus is entirely the desire of the changed heart and expressed by our ready and willing mind.
For a very simple answer to your question: - "How - What does it look like? - I would answer: 'do unto others as you would want them do unto you'; commit to expressing loving kindness in all its forms under all circumstances. God promises to not only renew the heart, He also promises to renew the mind; giving us a new way to think about actions of kindness and our interactions with others.
Engendering love for God is, in my opinion, not so much an issue of obedience, as it is a desire of the heart to learn how to love Him. Maybe, at the beginning of the walk of faith is the commitment to treat others with kindness, respect and deference to their dignity as a fellow human being, but then this becomes our new nature.
If we do not interact with fellow Christian's in this New Way, how could we ever expect to be able to genuinely, kindly interact with the lost and their often malicious, inconsiderate ways?
How do these verses about perfect people, in a perfect environment, created by a perfect God, also reveal the powerful truth about the freedom inherent in love? Please help!
Hi Ronald
In Genesis 2:16 we have God saying that Adam and Eve are free to eat of every (Hebrew: mikkol = the whole/all) tree of the garden. However, if they choose to exercise their freedom and eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they will unfortunately unleash something that will result in loss of their freedom. Thus, God is authentically giving them informed free-choice without imposing any restriction. The restriction arises from the adverse outcomes that will be unleashed via being deceived by The Serpent into embracing self-seeking (as per Genesis 3:6) which is a heart-orientation that is incompatible with life and therefore precludes life (ie produces death).
This differs from the dominant Christian conception that has God saying you can eat from every tree - but not that one. However, if I tell you that you can choose from anything on the table but not that one, then you are no longer free to choose from anything on the table - only 99% of what is on the table.
Genesis 3:1 has Satan 're-framing' what God had said to instead make it appear as a restriction rather than informed freedom.
But perhaps you already knew this...🙂
What Present Truth do we learn from the Flood?
I believe it teaches us the LORD will destroy the wicked and save the righteous at His Second Coming initially and finally after the millennium and judgement.
2 Peter 2:5-6,9; 2 Peter 3:5-7; Matt 24:37-39; Rev 20:9,15
This point, which the Sabbath school author wrote for today's lesson, is so interesting, I never give much thought to it, but it is true: "This was important because, for millennia, many people believed that the laws that governed the heavens were different from the laws that governed the earth."
He follows that statement up with: "And though Newton’s contribution was in the area of natural law, the same principle holds true with moral law. The same freedom, the freedom inherent in love, that led to Lucifer’s fall in heaven led to humanity’s Fall on earth, as well." It's all the same, it's the same law, whether it's the natural law or the moral law. I think I got it!
Also, many people have wondered, why God had to test Adam and Eve in the first place? "16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”" The answer is, for the same reason that you take Marriage Vows, "to love, honor and trust (obey has been deleted nowadays)". We, as married or unmarried, are tested every day on whether we will love and honor our spouses. We all have a choice, "to obey or not to obey", that is the question!
Be blessed!
Can we truly consider Adam and Eve(before they sinned) with their free moral capacity as being “perfect”, when the first test revealed their unbelief? They had every opportunity and advantage to achieve “perfection”, but didn't. There is no “perfection” without being tested. Jesus was made perfect through “testing”(Heb 5:8,9) as are we. How is that going?
Simply being aware of our own thoughts will not help us without Divine aid(Jer 17:9, Ps 139:23,24, Isa 30:21).
Following up on my post from yesterday, I want to add to my statement "to obey or not to obey", because that there is so much more to the process. A bigger part of the picture is our "desires"; what we "desire" to do, or desire after. And don't get me wrong, there are good and bad desires.
A good desire was in Genesis 2:20, that says, "...But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him."(NJKV) Adam saw that all the other animals was paired up with a female of its species; therefore Adam desired a female person as well. And God answered his desire, and caused him to fall into a deep sleep (the first surgery in the bible), and took one of Adam's rib and made him a woman. This was a good desire.
This is also why Jesus repeatedly told us to desire (or seek) after Heavenly things, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you", Matthew 6:33, NKJV. But our problem is that our desires do not always line up with the kingdom of God; our desires often line up with the things of this world. Jesus told his disciples that His Kingdom is not of this world:
John 18:36, "Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.'”
So, as I see it (this is my opinion only, you don't have to agree), in order for me to start "obeying God", I must align my desires with "His will" or "His kingdom". If I continue to "seek" my our desires, my own pleasures (God is not going to force me to give up my desires), then I will never come into the Full Obedience of God. It must my choice (my desire) to "seek the Kingdom of God".
But Praise God, He gave us the Holy Spirit to help us, to encourage us to "seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness". But we have to freely lay down our own desires, which is a process, sometimes a life-long process, the sanctification process of the Holy Spirit. This is the process that Jesus told Nicodemus, but Nicodemus did not understand; John 3:3,"Jesus answered and said to him, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.'”(NJKV). Let our desire be that we want to be "born again".
God's blessings to us all.