#70 -- Gospel and Spiritual Growth
Valley December 15, 2002 p.m.
The world system operates commerce and industry. The roots of the development and commerce are very much evident in the book of Genesis in the patriarchal period finding its roots with Cain and his seed. One must recognize that the world system developed industry and commerce in response to the curse upon the ground as the result of Adam's fall and the curse upon Cain. The commercial world system is evident in its development from Cain and his seed and forward through the dispensations of human government and promise. Early human society was designed to be an agricultural society for meeting the needs for human existence. As a result, each individual was isolated from others as each met his needs to live on planet earth.
The first segment of the message traces the systematization of society to fulfill human needs and desires through the development of commerce and industry. The message covered the first point (I.) of the outline. A later message will incorporate II. We began with an evaluation of the results of the fall to Adam. Eve and the serpent were cursed. Adam was not. Instead, God cursed the ground which forced Adam to eat in sorrow all the days of his life (Gen. 3:17-19). He was to eat herbs in the middle of a thorn and thistle patch a weed patch. The curse forced Adam to labor by the perspiration of his brow in hard labor in order to have an adequate food supply. This stood in contrast to a readily available food supply before the fall. Adequate nourishment was always available for the picking at any time and wherever one was. As a result of the fall, mankind had to contrive agricultural methods to provide adequate food and sustenance.
This is evident in the need for continued labor for food. After the fall mankind found it necessary to find ways to produce food and clothing. This was evident in that Abel was a shepherd and Cain was a servant or tiller of the ground. Abel grew animals for clothing and Cain grew vegetables for nutrition (Gen. 4:2-4). The curse of Cain in Genesis four prevented him from practicing his horticultural expertise. No matter how hard he tried to produce adequate food for himself and his family, it was impossible for him to continue to live by his farming. As a result, he would always have concern for finding adequate supplies of food. We have already seen that Cain founded the world system after the slaying of Abel. The resulting curse presented Cain with the need to find some way to feed himself and his family. Ultimately he and his offspring were involved in building a city (Gen. 4:20). This undoubtedly involves primitive industry and primitive forms of commerce. Economically it was necessary to hire those who knew how to do certain things and to use materials that would provide for permanent structures.
In Genesis 5:28 Lamech at the age of 82 had a son named Noah. His response to the prospect of a son is a great indicator of the next stage of development of commerce and industry. Lamech said, "This male one will continue to comfort us concerning our work and the toil (the idea of this word is toil that produces pain) of our hands, because of the ground that Jehovah has cursed (5:29)." His labor pool was expanding (in his old age) and he anticipated rest. Because of this he gave his son the name Noah which means "rest" in Hebrew. The desire to lighten the burden of the curses naturally led to commerce and industry. This got the human race into trouble.
Genesis 6:1-6 describes how economic enterprise was a justification for open violence against God and His plan. Bigger and better equipment would mean more leisure time, greater productivity, more disposable income and expanded commerce. This equipment for farming came as a result of the infiltration of the gene pool of the human race by the sons of God. Every other use of "sons of Elohim" in the Old Testament is a clear reference to spirit beings. These fallen spirit beings materialized humanoid bodies and took the daughters of mankind (haadam) and produced offspring identified as Nephalim ("fallen ones" translated "giants" in the AV). These mutants provided labor in the agricultural intensive society that would attempt to overcome the curse upon the ground and upon Cain. They were key contributors to massive wickedness that brought the flood. "Then Elohim proceeded to see that the wickedness of mankind was great (multitudinous) in the earth, and that every formation of the thoughts of his heart was evil all the day (Gen. 6:5)." It appears that He would have annihilated mankind except for the fact that Noah found favor in the eyes of Jehovah (6:8). The flood completely destroyed the commerce and industry of the world system started by Cain and his offspring. Eight people survived the flood and within the minds of those eight were the roots of a resurgence of the commerce and industry of the world system. Before the flood the world system concentrated on overcoming the curses upon the ground and upon Cain. The same objectives were true after the flood. Notice how quickly commerce and industry were developed after the flood.
Genesis 11describes the events that took place at Babel. There was a commercial and industrial program for building a single city and a tower in open violation of God's instructions that mankind spread out over the earth and populate it. 11:6 again finds the human race out of control. "Then Jehovah proceeded to say: "Behold, they are one people, and one tongue (or language) is to all of them, and this is what they begin to do, and now there will not be restraint from them to do all that they plan (Gen. 11:6). As a result Jehovah scattered them across the earth by dividing their languages, distinguishing between their races and dividing the continents. Now the race and the world system had a whole different set of circumstances for commerce and industry. Every part of the progressive development of commerce and industry by the world system in its early stages created catastrophe.
We cannot imagine what it was like before the world system began to develop economic systems (no matter how primitive). We are so dependent on the world system as it is that we cannot imagine what it was like before the death of Abel or immediately after the flood. Christians assume that the world system as it is today is the way that it should be. As a result, many abuse the world system rather than use it. Some often see commerce and industry as originating with God rather than with the Satanic world system.
My family will be sharing with me for the holidays. We will be having our traditional Christmas dinner Christmas day with my kids and their families and my siblings. In many ways this is a difficult holiday for me but I am thankful that my God sustains me at such times as this. I anticipate the New Year "pressing according to the mark for the prize of the above calling of God in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:14)." May your holidays truly be holy as you enjoy all you are and have in Christ. May the New Year be filled with the certainty of living in and doing the will of God in your lives. To God is the glory! Anticipating meeting the Glorified Resurrected One in the air. "We shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is (1 Jn. 3:2)."
Resurrected and Seated Complete,
DKS
#70 -- Gospel and Spiritual Growth
Valley December 15, 2002 p.m.
1 John 2:15
Proposition: To examine the roots of commerce and industry as developed in the world system from its origin. There was a fertile environment for developing these areas from the very beginning of the world system.
Introduction
A. The Roots of World System Commerce and Industry with Cain
B. The Reaction to the Curses Upon Men
1. Upon the Ground
2. Upon Cain
C. The Relationship of the Commercial World System to the Old Testament Patriarchs
D. The Restrictions of Patriarchs from the Commerce of the World System
1. Agrarian Society
2. Acquired Isolation
TRANS: The early systematization of commerce and industry in the world system was an open confrontation with the curse placed on the ground at the fall and more directly to the curse of the ground in relation to Cain. The system has created a need for commerce and industry. It has convinced mankind that the human race cannot exist without its commerce and industry.
I. THE SYSTEMATIZATION OF SOCIETY TO FULLFILL HUMAN NEEDS AND DESIRES THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISE IN THE WORLD SYSTEM A PROGRAM FOR SUPPORTING OR EASING MAN'S EXISTENCE ON A CURSED GROUND
A. The Condition of the Ground After the Fall Genesis 3:17-19
1. Eating in Sorrow All the Days of Your Life
2. Eating Herbs in a Weed Patch
3. Eating in the Sweat of One's Brow
B. The Continuation of a Need for Labor for Food Genesis 4:2-4
1. Abel = a Shepherd of the Flock
2. Cain = a Servant/Slave of the Ground
C. The Curse of Cain Genesis 4:2-4
1. The Ground Will Not Give Her Strength
2. The Concern for the Results for Lacking Food
D. The Construction of a City Genesis 4:17
1. Constructed by Primitive Industry
2. Connected with the Need for Commerce
E. The Constitution of a Mobile Society for Commercial Purposes Genesis 4:20
1. Tents = A System for Fabrication
2. Cattle = A System for Production and Distribution
F. The Connection of Offspring with Expanding Commerce and Industry Genesis 5:29
1. The Concept of Easing the Pressure = Rest
2. The Consolation from Work and Pain of Hands
3. The Condition of the Cursed Ground and the Groceries
G. The Corruption of Mankind in the Attempts to Overthrow the Curse Genesis 6:1-6
1. Mankind Produced Daughters
2. Mankind Permitted the Taking of Their Daughters by the Sons of God
3. Mankind Presented with Nephalim
4. Mankind Polluted by Wickedness
5. Mankind Punished "How Long Can You Tread Water?"
H. The Concentration of the System with Overcoming the Curse
I. The Continuation of the Commerce and Industry of the World System After the Flood Genesis 11
1. The Program for Building the City and Tower of Babel 11:3, 4
2. The Potential for Lack of Restraint Concerning Their Activities 11:6
TRANS: Elements of commerce and industry of the world system are evident throughout history as it is revealed in the Old Testament.
II. THE STRUCTURE OF THE SYSTEM INVOLVING COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY ILLUSTRATED IN THE BOOK OF GENESIS THE DEPENDENCY OF WORLD SYSTEM COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY ILLUSTRATED IN GENESIS A PROGRESSION OF THE DEPENDENCY ON COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY IN THE WORLD SYSTEM
A. Abraham and His Economic Security
1. His Running to Egypt and Trouble Because of Famine Gen. 12:10 (before his
salvation)
2. His Riches and Their Impression Gen. 13:2
3. His Relationship with Lot Gen. 13:5-7
4. His Rerunning of the Scene Produces More Commerce Gen. 20:14-16 (after his
salvation)
5. His Righteousness in Purchasing the Cave of Machpelah Gen 23 (vss. 9, 10, 13,
15, 16)
B. Isaac and His Economic Prosperity Genesis 26
1. His Great Possessions in the Land of the Philistines 26:12
2. The Problem of Commerce, Wells and Water Rights 26:13-23
C. Shechem and His Commercial Intentions and Their Results Gen. 34
1. The Reason for the Circumcision 34:20-24
2. The Results for the City 34:25-30
D. Esau and His Economic Prosperity Gen. 36:6-8
E. Joseph and the Commerce of His Day
1. The Sale of Joseph to the Ishmaelites Gen. 37:27, 28
2. The Sharing of Joseph in the Commerce of Egypt Gen. 39
a. In Potiphor's House 39:2-6
b. In Pharoah's Court
(1) The Dreams and Their Economic Results Gen. 41:1-36
(2) Joseph's Duty in the Commerce of Egypt Gen. 41:37-47
(3) The Dependence of the Sons of Israel Because of Famine Gen. 42
c. In Famine with His Family and Commerce Gen. 42-46
(1) The Commercial Advantage of Egypt
(2) The Competent Administration by Joseph
(3) The Coordinated Acquisition by the Economic World System for Egypt
TRANS: While the book of Genesis is not designed to specifically address issues concerning the world system, it does give the Christian information as to how its commercialism and industry related to people during the period of the patriarchs. We have been convinced that the mechanisms of commerce and industry in the world system are necessary and essential for the ongoing existence and maintenance of the human race.
© by David K. Spurbeck
Valley Baptist Church
P. O. Box 99, Gaston, OR 97119