God's Careful Cultivation of Fallen Humanity in Scripture
God's interaction with fallen humanity in Scripture demonstrates a careful, cultivating approach, even after the initial "fall of man" described in Genesis 2 and 3 [4]. This narrative, which underlies the entire system of revealed truth, shows God's continued engagement with humanity despite their sin and misery [4].
One significant aspect of this cultivation is God's establishment of sacrifice as a divine institution. This practice, which did not originate with humanity, was appointed by God as the acceptable mode of worship for guilty individuals [5]. Even in the antediluvian age, sacrifices were offered, as seen when God clothed Adam and Eve with animal skins, likely from animals offered in sacrifice (Genesis 3:21), and when Abel offered "firstlings of his flock" (Genesis 4:4) [5]. This institution provided a means for humanity to approach God and foreshadowed a greater redemptive plan.
God's careful cultivation is also evident in the unfolding of prophetic promises, particularly concerning the Messiah. Numerous prophecies detail Christ's identity and coming, including his lineage as the "seed of the woman" (Genesis 3:15), the "seed of Abraham" (Genesis 17:7), and the "seed of David" (Psalm 132:11; Jeremiah 23:5) [3]. These prophecies were fulfilled in Jesus, who was born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14) and came at a set time (Genesis 49:10; Daniel 9:24-25) [3]. The fulfillment of these promises, such as God bringing forth a savior from David's seed (Acts 13:23), highlights God's long-term plan for humanity's redemption [2, 3].
Furthermore, God's providential care extends to individuals and nations, even amidst their struggles. For instance, the story of Joseph illustrates how God can use difficult circumstances to preserve many people alive, guiding events even when human actions seem to conspire against His purposes [8, 9]. Calvin notes that Jacob's sons conspired against Joseph, who was ordained to be their savior, yet God used these misfortunes to preserve the family [8]. Similarly, God's grace is shown to descend not only on the powerful but also on the "most simple and inconsiderable," demonstrating His delight in bestowing favor on the abject [6]. Even when a people appear "altogether withered and decayed," God can restore them, much like roots concealed beneath the winter ground put forth vigor at the return of spring [7]. This ongoing care and intervention demonstrate God's commitment to humanity, raising the poor from affliction and setting families like a flock (Psalm 107:41) [1].
Sources
- Psalms “Psalms 107:41 (LITV) — But He raises the poor up from affliction, and He sets families like a flock.”
- Acts “Acts 13:23 (Tyndale) — Of this manes seed hath God (accordinge to his promes) brought forth to the people of Israel a saviour one Iesus”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prophecies Respecting Christ — As the Son of God -- Ps 2:7. Fulfilled. -- Lu 1:32,35. As the seed of the woman -- Ge 3:15. Fulfilled. -- Ga 4:4. As the seed of Abraham -- Ge 17:7; 22:18. Fulfilled. -- Ga 3:16. As the seed of Isaac -- Ge 21:12. Fulfilled. -- Heb 11:17-19. As the seed of David -- Ps 132:11; Jer 23:5. Fulfilled. -- Ac 13:23; Ro 1:3. His coming at a set time -- Ge 49:10; Da 9:24,25. Fulfilled. -- Lu 2:1. His being born a virgin -- Isa 7:14. Fulfilled. -- Mt 1:22,23; Lu 2:7. His being called Immanuel -- Isa 7:14. Fulfilled. -- Mt 1:22,23. His being born i”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Fall of man — An expression probably borrowed from the Apocryphal Book of Wisdom, to express the fact of the revolt of our first parents from God, and the consequent sin and misery in which they and all their posterity were involved. The history of the Fall is recorded in Gen. 2 and 3. That history is to be literally interpreted. It records facts which underlie the whole system of revealed truth. It is referred to by our Lord and his apostles not only as being true, but as furnishing the ground of all God's subsequent dispensations and dealings with the children of m”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Sacrifice — The offering up of sacrifices is to be regarded as a divine institution. It did not originate with man. God himself appointed it as the mode in which acceptable worship was to be offered to him by guilty man. The language and the idea of sacrifice pervade the whole Bible. Sacrifices were offered in the ante-diluvian age. The Lord clothed Adam and Eve with the skins of animals, which in all probability had been offered in sacrifice (Gen. 3:21). Abel offered a sacrifice "of the firstlings of his flock" (4:4; Heb. 11:4). A distinction also was made between c”
- Luke (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Luke 2:52: Jesus increased in wisdom - See on Luk 2:40 (note). The following remarks, taken chiefly from Mr. Claude, on the foregoing subject, are well worth the reader's attention. I. The birth of Christ is announced to the shepherds. 1. God causes his grace to descend not only on the great and powerful of the world, but also upon the most simple and inconsiderable; just as the heavens diffuse their influence not only on great trees, but also on the smallest herbs. 2. God seems to take more delight in bestowing his favors on the most abject than in distributing them among perso”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 2, section 14.36: winter, so that they appear to be wholly dead, and, to outward appearance, no other judgment could be formed respecting them; yet the roots are concealed beneath, which, when they have imbibed the dew at the return of spring, put forth their vigor, so that herbs which formerly were dry and withered, grow green again. In this manner will the nation regain its former vigor after having been plentifully watered with the dew of the grace of God, though formerly it appeared to be altogether withered and decayed. Such comparisons, drawn from well-”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 2 (Gen 24-50), section 14.8: such a result. The sons of Jacob conspire to put the very person to death, without whom they cannot be preserved; yea, he who was ordained to be the minister of salvation to them, is thrown into a well, and with difficulty rescued from the jaws of death. Driven about by various misfortunes, he seems to be an alien from his father’s house. Afterwards, he is cast into prison, as into another sepulcher, where, for a long time, he languishes. Nothing, therefore, was less probable than that the family of Jacob should be preserved by h”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 2 (Gen 24-50), section 27.17: comprehend, than, as vessels of clay, proudly exalt themselves against their Maker. To save much people alive . Joseph renders his office subservient to the design of God’s providence; and this sobriety is always to be cultivated, that every one may behold, by faith, God from on high holding the helm of the government of the world, and may keep himself within the bounds of his vocation; and even, being admonished by the secret judgments of God, may descend into himself, and exhort himself to the discharge of his duty: and if the”