4 Adam to the Flood

AFTER THE LAPSE of unknown time had sufficed to drive home to the hearts of all who beheld it the tragedy of pride and disobedience, the Son of God arose to seek another friend with whose aid He could repair the ravages of the past. The Earth was set in order once again and man was brought forth in the likeness of God, that in the cool of the eve, and in daily conversation, the heart of the Son of God might be healed and refreshed by the love of Adam and Eve. His delights were with them, we read, as He began once more to educate him who should have dominion over the earth.

       What grades there are of love! Who would put into the same category fair and foul weather friends! Adam and Eve should be given an opportunity of proving themselves and realising the goodness of their God. Accordingly Satan in all his treachery and bitter hatred was allowed to enter Eden that the experience of his wickedness should fill them by contrast with a deeper comprehension of the Love of God. The slander of a friend arouses in us the greater determination to go to his defence. Speak against a lover to his lass, and we but drive her closer to his heart! So God, who had given to Adam and Eve all they had, might well have expected to find them up in arms against His slanderer.

       Again the former tragedy was repeated. So wicked grew

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the earth that from Cain to Lamech, and Lamech to the flood was a rising crescendo of violence, till in mercy God put 'finis' to this tale of man's inhumanity to man, and swept away the ungodly into destruction. Yet two things should be considered at this point: the institution of a long line of blood sacrifices that was to end at Calvary; and the picking out of a few friends whose loyalty withstood all attacks.

       Just as the rainbow was to bring to God's memory His covenant with Noah, so this constant repetition of animal sacrifices must have spoken continually to the Son of God of that human sacrifice which was to take their place; so that again He daily took up His Cross in His heart, and slowly moved toward His own execution. Not otherwise could He have asked Peter to undertake a ministry that was to end in tragedy, and cast its shadow across the light of every day. The Son of God, too, knew from experience what it meant to live in the constant expectation of suffering and death.

       To balance this debit side, however, was the beginning of a long line of friends, who by their confidence in Him would warm His heart, and heal the wounds inflicted by the treachery of others. Abel, Enoch, Noah, Job stood as pure gold in the midst of dross. The history of the human race was to prove the value and the rarity of gold: but here were the beginnings of that company who would repay Him for the travail of His soul, and the sorrows of His experience. To Enoch at least was imparted some knowledge of the course of history which was to bring to earth the Son of God with ten thousand of His Saints. To Job was given the inestimable honour of shouting into the heart of Satan those triumphant words 'Though He slay me yet will I trust Him'. What music in Christ's ears! What ointment to mollify His wound at Adam's hand!

       The Scriptures say that at this time the long-suffering of

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God waited. Already He was tasting, from a safe distance, the contradiction of sinners that was later to blow full blast against His soul and body, branding Him as a deceiver unfit to live amongst honest folk, and drawing from Him the cry 'How long shall I be with you and suffer you?'

       So severe was the sorrow of His soul at the sight of so much obstinate cruelty as to bring Him nigh to rejection of the whole plan upon which He had embarked. It repented Him that He had made man, and filled Him with shocked grief that He must destroy the works of His own hands. Truly the sorrows of Christ began before His ministry in Palestine! Long-suffering means long suffering.

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