Chapter 6 of Genesis begins with the costs of man's actions... the costs of MY actions "...his days shall be a hundred and twenty years..." Now cut off from the tree of life, man's days upon the earth begin to wither, as a flower wilts when it is plucked from its stem. What can we do to steadfast once we are severed from that which was meant to sustain us? Our death has come and the verdict is that it shall be slow like a clipped rose in a glass of water. Science shows us that the cells that make up a man's body begin to wither, wear, tear, and decay from the day he is born... There is no reversing it... If Ha-Shem says it then, it is so; the promise shows fruit, be it grim, fruit non the less "... and in the day that you eat from it, you shall surely die..."... no amount of medication or exercising will change when your time on this Earth is finished! Nothing!...
But that wasn't enough in Ha-Shem's eyes; for like He declared on Mount Sinai to Moses, He declares first here "... I will destroy man whom I have made..." Man had fallen so far from the tree that bore him that he corrupted every living thing on the Earth to perversion of the Ha-Shem's design; and ALL had failed their divine design. We were created to steward over Creation with divine dominion; but instead, we corrupted, perverted, and ruined that which we were to care for. I kinda picture the Cave of Wonders from Aladdin, and see that 1 little ruby as the forbidden fruit; and trying to take that 1 thing in all the world that was reserved for Ha-Shem alone destroys all of the rest of the wonders that Ha-Shem intended for us to enjoy and be blessed with. Ha-Shem becomes so repulsed by His creation that he once called "Very Good" that he declares that he will destroy the entirety of the earth and all that is in it. "Every living thing shall perish!"
But Ha-Shem is gracious and loving and forgiving... and His gaze shifts to Noah who is described as being Just and Perfect... a man who lived in a time which Ha-Shem is so repulsed by everything that He has created that He chooses to destroy it all. Just like with Enoch in chapter 5, we are reminded that "walking with God" is still a feat that is within our reach as men; it is still something that men can do more than just dream about. For it is in our very design; it is the divine scheme behind the blueprints of our existence to be in ha-Shem's presence and share in His marvel and wonder; if we so choose then no abyss, no hight, no expanse can keep His Shekinah from us. First Enoch, now Noah... Ha-Shem reminds us He still loves us and longs for us "...But with thee shalt I establish my covenant..." The Hebrew word here is "B'ryth" or "Bareet" and it is a Confederacy, Covenant, or League. it is a deal forged by the passing between 2 pieces of flesh. The details of this covenant are not mapped out for us to see at this time; but it is forged in passing between 2 pieces of flesh. I can't help but think of communion when i read this. "... this is my flesh broken for you ..." again we have promise here of the Messiah; at least a hint to it...
And again I remember a promise from chapter 5: "... Noah, saying the same shall comfort concerning our work and toil ..." the first hints at the events and aftermath of the flood; before man even had inklings that the Great Deluge would actually happen; within a name a promise was given to allow Ha-Shem to give man mercy in His judgement... While enduring the very thing that man is given to punish him for eating the fruit of knowledge; he is now given a promise that there will be comfort, there will be release, there will be mercy.... Release will come in the covenant we will forge with Ha-Shem as we walk between the bloodied pieces of flesh that mark us as HIS people, HIS disciples, HIS prophets, HIS vessels of truth onto all creation..
What is Ha-Shem's design for me? What purpose does the Ha-Shem have in my creation and existence? What "note" can I play so well that nobody else in all of creation could possibly take my place? Where is the vine that birthed me? The vine that sustains me? The vine that produces from me fruit?
What treasures and trinkets is the Serpent waving in front of my face in attempt to beguile me away from Ha-Shem's design? I am faced now today as I am everyday with the choice between the tree of life and the tree of knowledge... which one shall I eat from? Which fruit am I living my life for? Does it show to those who innocently pass through my life and never again cross my path? What could I do differently and would it be closer or further from the Ha-Shem's design for me?
Am I walking with Ha-Shem? or man? or alone? Who or what is driving me onward? What is the status of my own covenant with Ha-Shem? Do I drink the blood and eat the flesh idly without realization of what it represents and means? Am I furthering the corruption of this world or am I correcting it? Does Ha-Shem count me as one of His own?
Who am I? What is the name that Ha-Shem has given me? What does it mean?
If the Scriptures truly are the Breathed Word of Ha-Shem then every element within is His Promise, every element within has His power to sculpt the whole of the world around us, and if we so choose, they have the power to sculpt us as well...
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