Lesson 2: The Second Dispensation
It is by the goodness of God that we have been given the gift and freedom of conscience
The Age of Conscience
The second dispensation spans time from the fall of man to the Flood, during which time God provided a means of atonement. Animals were permitted to be killed, and their blood shed, so that Adam and Eve and their descendants, who were fallen human beings, could be reconciled to the Creator.
Please open your Bible to Genesis Chapter 4. This dispensation is covered by Genesis 4:1-8;19.
Paul's admonition to young Timothy applies to each of us: "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly divides the Word of Truth." In order to correctly understand Scripture, we must correctly divide and apply the Word of God to our lives. The seven dispensations correctly divide God's Word.
God has had different requirements for different people in different ages. What is meant for one group of people is not meant for another group. There were no major changes in the charge for the people of this age, as the charge or test for the second dispensation was similar to the first - to do good and abstain from evil. He was to obey God through the use of his conscience. The failure of this dispensation was that the proper sacrifice was not offered.
This was particularly true with Cain. Remember the story of Cain and Able? Now Able was what could be called the good son, but Cain his twin brother was bad news bears. Able's chosen work was to tend sheep, while Cain chose to till the ground. Now the time once came for these boys to go to a particular spot to worship God, and they were to take an offering along with them. Able took a sacrifice offering as instructed by God, but Cain ignored God's instructions and took as an offering grain from his field. I am sure it was beautiful grain, but it was not what he was instructed to offer.
Scripture tells us that we cannot approach God on our own merit, because we have none. We go to God through the sacrificial Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ. Abel's offering reflected the sacrificial Lamb. Cain, however approached God on his own merit and his offering was rejected. Enter jealousy, envy, and hate. Cain planned and murdered his brother. But God is a just God and gave Cain a second chance. All Cain had to do was to give to God like to that which Able had taken, a sacrifice along with the acknowledgment that he was a sinner. Cain refused. I am pleased to offer you a Suite reading on Cain. You may reach it in Activities at the conclusion of today's lesson.
There are several highlights of this dispensation which make it very interesting:
- The multiplication of humankind as Adam and Eve have their children.
- Teaching begins in the home. That Cain and Abel were "homeschooled" is evidenced by them knowing that they were required to make sacrifice and offering unto God (Genesis 4:3-5).
- The first murder. Cain killed his brother Abel.
- Woman takes the name of the husband when they marry (Genesis 5:2).
- Noah and the Flood.
- Seasons are noted (Genesis 8:22).
- Clouds and rain come into being (Genesis 9:13).
But let's move right along to Noah, the man who would build an ark.
