This year we began in our adult mid-week bible study going through a verse by verse study in the book of Genesis. While as the teacher of the class I thought there would be some interesting things to point out, I will be honest, I had no idea there would be so many.

One of the things I have pointed out to the class over and over again is how we really can't understand the "end times" until we understand the "beginning times."

From the moment God's inspired and inherent Word opens up to us it is filled with information to help us understand what is to come and why it must be that way in God's perfect plan.

As you see creation unfold and then sin enter the world you see God's grace unfold in allowing Adam & Eve to survive their blatant disobedience. As things go from bad to worse and Cain kills Abel you again see God's grace as Seth is born to provide a new line from the first Adam to the second Adam, Christ Jesus. As the world spirals even further down until all there is evil again God's grace and mercy are right there again as He see Noah as a righteous man and saves Noah and his family from destruction.

On the other side of that view we also see through each of these stories God's justice and righteousness unfold. Adam and Eve while spared will face God's wrath and punishment both individually and collectively as humanity. Cain while spared as well will be cast out for his disobedience. Noah and his family while as a saved remnant of humanity will have no other passengers with them on the Ark as God's wrath and judgement are righteously displayed in His decision to wipe all other living creatures off of His creation.

All of those beginning stories help us to better understand what the Apostle Peter means when he tells us that "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). Reading this in the light of these "beginning" stories we can much more easily see God's grace and mercy towards us as He offers us opportunity after opportunity to obey His will.

However, we also receive better understanding when Peter then says, "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed" (2 Peter 3:10). Seeing God's wrath and justice for sinful disobedience in these "beginning" stories helps us to then understand a coming day when His wrath and obedience will be handed down for a final time.

The only real question after better understanding God's grace, mercy, wrath, and justice then is what would make us test Him beyond this very moment? Why wouldn't we instead humble ourselves in obedience to Him this very moment?