Today’s Reading: Genesis 9–11; Matthew 4
Key Verses: Genesis 9:6; Genesis 11:4; Matthew 4:10
After the Flood, God does not abandon humanity to chaos. Judgment has passed, but God immediately reestablishes order, boundaries, and accountability.
Genesis 9:6 (NASB 2020)
“Whoever sheds human blood,
By man his blood shall be shed,
For in the image of God
He made mankind.”
Human life is sacred because it bears the image of God. This is not a human agreement or a social construct. Justice is grounded in God’s design. Here, God gives mankind responsibility over mankind. Authority is delegated, not invented. Life matters because God says it does.
And yet, even after judgment, even after mercy, sin is still present. The Flood did not cure the human heart. It restrained evil, but it did not remove it. This is an important lesson: humanity does not need another reset. It needs redemption.
God then establishes a covenant—not only with Noah, but with all living creatures.
Genesis 9:11 (NASB 2020)
“I establish My covenant with you; and all flesh shall never again be eliminated by the waters of the flood, nor shall there again be a flood to destroy the earth.”
The rainbow becomes the sign of that promise. Creation continues not because mankind deserves it, but because God restrains judgment by His own word. Stability itself is grace. Every sunrise is undeserved mercy.
Yet immediately after this covenant, Scripture reminds us of something sobering: even righteous men fall.
Noah becomes drunk. Ham dishonors his father. Sin did not drown in the Flood, it walked out of the Ark. This moment strips away any illusion that a godly man can secure righteousness for the generations that follow him. The problem is not environment. It is not circumstance. It is the human heart.
Genesis 10 then records the nations that come from Noah’s sons. Humanity spreads across the earth, just as God commanded. Nations, boundaries, and diversity are not accidents. God intended them. Order, structure, and distinction are part of His design.
But Genesis 11 shows us how quickly mankind resists that design.
Genesis 11:4 (NASB 2020)
“They said, ‘Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.’”
This is not about bricks and mortar. It is about authority. God commanded humanity to spread across the earth. They chose unity instead—unity without God. They feared dispersion because dispersion required trust. So they built upward, centralized power, and sought a name for themselves.
This is theological rebellion. It is humanity saying, We will decide what matters. We will define our own purpose. We will secure ourselves.
Babel is not ancient history. It is the human instinct toward self-rule, self-glory, and control.
God responds by confusing their language and scattering them. (Which, by the way, what an awesome, supernatural God we serve that can simply speak many languages into existence at once??) This is judgment, but it is also restraint. A unified humanity in rebellion would lead to total corruption. God divides power to limit evil. Sometimes mercy looks like disruption.
Genesis 11 then narrows the line from Shem to Abram. Out of global rebellion, God begins again—not with a tower, but with a promise. Redemption will not come through human unity, achievement, or strength. It will come through God’s calling.
When we turn to Matthew 4, the contrast becomes immediate and intentional.
Jesus has just been publicly affirmed by the Father — “This is My beloved Son” — and almost immediately He is led into the wilderness, not by accident, but by the Spirit, to be tested.
Matthew 4:1 (NASB 2020)
“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”
This is not random. Scripture has already shown us this pattern before.
In Genesis 3, the serpent did not attack Adam and Eve with force, but with temptation — and specifically through what Scripture later identifies as the threefold temptation: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). As discussed in my earlier post on Genesis 3, every temptation Satan uses falls into one or more of these categories.
Here in Matthew 4, Satan approaches Jesus in the same way — but this time, the outcome is different.
Where humanity repeatedly failed under blessing, Christ is tested under deprivation.
Where Adam fell in abundance, Jesus stands firm in hunger.
Where Israel failed in the wilderness, Jesus remains obedient.
The First Temptation — Lust of the Flesh
Matthew 4:3–4 (NASB 2020)
“And the tempter came and said to Him, ‘If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.’
But He answered and said, ‘It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”
In Genesis 3:6, Eve saw that the tree was “good for food.” The appeal was physical appetite. The serpent suggested that God was withholding something necessary.
Here, Satan makes the same appeal. Jesus is hungry. He has the power. The temptation is simple: meet a legitimate physical need in an illegitimate way, apart from the Father’s will.
This is the lust of the flesh.
This is Babel in miniature — provide for yourself, act independently, bypass dependence on God.
Jesus refuses. He submits to the Word of God rather than the demands of His flesh.
The Second Temptation — Pride of Life
Matthew 4:6–7 (NASB 2020)
“If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written: He will command His angels concerning You…
Jesus said to him, ‘On the other hand, it is written: You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
In Genesis 3:5, the serpent promised Adam and Eve that they would “be like God.” This is the temptation of self-exaltation — the desire to elevate oneself, to prove something, to stand above submission.
Here, Satan even quotes Scripture, encouraging Jesus to force God’s hand, to put Himself on display, to test the Father’s faithfulness.
This is the pride of life.
Human rebellion often disguises itself as faith. Jesus exposes it by refusing to test God. True sonship does not demand proof — it trusts.
The Third Temptation — Lust of the Eyes
Matthew 4:8–10 (NASB 2020)
“Again, the devil took Him along to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, ‘All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.’
Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go away, Satan! For it is written: You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’”
In Genesis 3:6, Eve saw that the tree was “a delight to the eyes.” The serpent appealed to what could be seen, possessed, and gained.
Here, Satan shows Jesus the kingdoms of the world and their glory. Authority without suffering. Dominion without obedience. A crown without a cross.
This is the sharpest contrast to Babel.
Humanity sought dominion without God. At Babel, they built upward to secure power and a name for themselves. Here, Satan offers Jesus the same shortcut.
Jesus refuses.
The Kingdom will come — but only through obedience, suffering, and the Father’s will.
Where Adam failed, Christ prevailed.
Where humanity grasped, Christ submitted.
Where mankind sought its own name, Christ honored the Father’s name.
Genesis 9–11 shows us what humanity does when left to itself. Matthew 4 shows us what the true Son does when tested.
Redemption does not come through human effort, unity, or strength — but through obedience to God.
This prepares the way for everything that follows in Christ’s ministry.
Reader, Genesis shows us that even after judgment, mankind drifts toward rebellion. Matthew shows us that where every man failed, Christ stood firm. The question before us is not abstract. Will we submit to God’s authority, or continue building our own towers? Scripture makes clear that there is no lasting life apart from obedience to Him.
Prayer
Father,
You are the God who establishes order, restrains evil, and keeps Your promises.
We confess that our hearts are bent toward self-rule and rebellion.
Thank You for sending Your Son, who obeyed where we failed and stood firm under testing.
Teach us to submit to Your authority, to trust Your Word, and to worship You alone.
Tear down every tower we build in pride, and shape our hearts to desire Your will above our own.
You alone are worthy of worship.
We belong to You.
Amen.
– Griffin
Join us tomorrow! Genesis 12–14 traces the start of God’s covenant people, highlighting faith, failure, rescue, and God’s faithfulness despite human weakness.