Adam's Family: A Study of Depravity (Murder, Incest, Deceit, Adultery, Idolatry, Drugs-Alcohol)

By Cheryl Yvette Brock ThD.

Adam's Family: A Study of Depravity (Murder, Incest, Deceit, Adultery, Idolatry, Drugs/Alcohol brings to life the rawness of human nature. It depicts how out of line with God mankind has been ever since the first man and woman. The book gives a scholarly and biblically based account of man's fallen nature, offering references from the church fathers, reformists, great Christian commentariats, and some well-known Christians and secular psychologists and psychiatrists. After offering professional and expert references to support the need for reconciliation, the author offers colorful biblical stories from the book of Genesis, which include those of Cain and Abel, Lamech, Canaan, the tower of Babel, and individual stories of the patriarchs, their wives, sons, and daughters. It climaxes with Jesus as the answer to salvation solely by faith through God's grace. It is a scholarly and entertaining work of literature, useful for personal reading and enlightenment or as a textbook or for Bible study. It is one of a kind!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Aug 13, 2022
• ISBN: 9781685702151

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Adam's Family

A Study of Depravity (Murder, Incest, Deceit, Adultery, Idolatry, Drugs-Alcohol)

Cheryl Yvette Brock ThD.

ISBN 978-1-68570-214-4 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88540-617-8 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-68570-215-1 (digital)

Copyright © 2022 by Cheryl Yvette Brock, Th.D

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction

Who God Is: His Attributes, Desire, and Plan for Mankind and His Prevenient Grace

His Attributes, Desire, and Plan for Mankind and His Prevenient Grace

The Bible: The Written Word of God

The Written Word of God

A Brief Historical View

Chapter 1

Why Christians Need to Know Their History

Chapter 2

Distinguishing Between Christianity and Other Major Religions

Chapter 3

Understanding Original Sin and Depravity

Chapter 4

Distinguishing between Catholicism and Protestantism

Summary of Part 1

Adam's Family: A Story of Depravity—Before the Flood (Disobedience, Murder, Bigamy, Fallenness)

Chapter 1

The Story of the First Sin (Disobedience): Adam and Eve—Evil Challenges God's Word and Sin Enters Humanity

Chapter 2

They Surely Died

Chapter 3

Some Emotional and Psychological Effects of Sin: Guilt, Shame, Blame

Chapter 4

Depravity in Adam and Eve's Offspring: Cain, Abel, Lamech

Summary of Part 2

Pervasive Depravity in the Entire Earth

Adam's Family: A Story of Depravity—After the Flood (Ham and Babel)

Chapter 1

Canaan: A Cursed Nation because of Ham's Dishonor of His Father

Chapter 2

God Confounded Human Communication: The Tower of Babel

Summary of Part 3

Man's Free Will and Depravity after the Flood

Adam's Family: Abraham's Family—Lot, Isaac, Rebecca, Esau, Jacob, and the Twelve Tribes

Chapter 1

Two Acts of Incest Produce Two Nations: Moab and Ammon

Chapter 2

Isaac, Rebecca, Esau, and Jacob: A Case of Fraud—Is It Akin to Identity Theft?

Chapter 3

Simeon and Levi: A Case of Mass Murder?

Chapter 4

Reuben: A Case of Incest in the Tribe

Chapter 5

Joseph's Brothers: Slave Trade—Is It Akin to Modern-Day Human Trafficking?

Summary of Part 4

There Is Nothing New under the Sun

Conclusion

Notes

About the Author

First, I give thanks to my God—the most holy and only true God—through my Savior, Jesus Christ.

I dedicate this book to Allen and Gertrude Lavia Brock Partee, John and Minnie Brock, Clarence and Chanie Mae Smith, Mashak and Willie Pearl Laing, Ike and Betty Lawrence, Robert Brock, Edgar and Moses Cromarty, Uncle George, Aunt Cora, Aunt Ola Mae, Marshall Smith, Nettie Mae Smith, John and Mary Laing, Robert and Vera Jones, Betty Jean, Theresa, Cynthia, Denise, Bonnie, Napoleon, Allen, Kandi, Leon, Sheila, Big Leon, Letitia, Lil Leon, Tamika, Monica, Anthony, Anita, Betty, Domonique , Ricky, JJ, Tre, Trevor, Mia, Mara, Daryl, Darion, Meme, Lea, Khaela, Khia, Rennie, Talia, Leondra, Leila, Carter, Leilani, Bishop Ingram, Reverend Thigpen, Reverend Faison, Pastor Samuel, Pastor Walker, Brother Washington, Mrs. Firlow, Mrs. Adams, Mr. Bethel, Mrs. Seymour, Mrs. Saunders, Mrs. McKee, Lil Chew, Alex, Frank, Joy, Tosha, Germaine, Ryan, Shaunte, Perez, Cedric, Keza, Stacy, Anthony, Jermaine, Cheryl, Vic, Tim, Elijah, Somalia, Mark, Monica, Johnny, Mykhia, Lewis, Lil Robert, Eric, Venesia, Lil Nesie, Antoine, Erica, Shequanda, Shawn, Pam, Lil Bit, Twana, Robert, Shanee, Cedric, Antwone, Sheena, Taylor, Lil Frank, Keon, Kamal, Kayla, Darneisha, Lyn, Ron, Don, Carolyn, Fannie, John, Darby, Kit, Sheila, Judy, Harold, Arnold, Baker, Terry, Shirley, Wilma, Sallie, Johnny, Tab, Tanya, Darren, Darius, Ethel, KC, KC Junior, Greg, Pam, Christie, JJ, Renee, Jonathan, Albert, Ray, Sandra, Ann, Emily, Charlotte, Lillie, Mark, William, Sylvie, Denise, Clyde, Dominique, Regina, Andrea, Godfrey, Lloyd, Jennings, Bankston, Terry, Otis, Roscoe, Barbara, Geraldine, Watley, Mackey, Alonia, Wendy, Sakemeyia, Carolyn, Kitch, Naomi, Aron, Jean, Margaret, Johnny, Don, Francis, Ashley, Devon, Lil Tony, Nickia, Chara, Uniqua, Dejan, Jhnay, Duchyss, Empryss, Toria, Terra, Robbie, Lillie, Shantell, Alvin, Bonita, Parnell, Jennifer, Shondra, Tosha, Joseph, Chastity, Scott, Lil Roy, and all my other relatives, friends, cousins, nieces, and nephews!

Preface

As a Christian theologian, pastor, and counselor, I pondered the condition of my own personal affairs and those of my family members, friends, and close acquaintances, as well as, on a wider scale, the human condition in our world, for several years. As I counseled in secular and Christian contexts, I used the standard counseling interventions, which include those such as listening, confronting, empathizing, and sympathizing, with the use of journaling and dreamwork. In addition, pastoral or Christian counseling features the utilization of Scripture and prayer. When a client opted for these approaches, they generally confessed and repented for their trespasses and invited the Lord into the session. This greatly affected the tone of the counseling session, adding a measurable level of calm and peace. The client's issues or circumstances did not matter. Sometimes, a client might have been the abuser or the abused, the victim or the offender. But, when they prayed, confessed, and repented, the Lord's presence was potent (2 Chron. 7:14–16; James 4:8). Since there was no way to determine long-term differences between the absence of prayers and Scripture made in the secular client's life, there was no way to compare the outcomes of the two approaches. However, due to the calm and peace the client and I experienced during the pastoral counseling sessions, I am persuaded that they made a long-term positive difference in the life of the praying client.

While I contemplated the topic for this book, I spent much time in meditation and prayer. With God's help, I decided that I should write about something that I take to heart. It involves the plan and purpose God has for us and the depraved state of the human race. Therefore, there are three major things I want to accomplish in this book. First, I want to shed some light on God's amazing love for mankind. Next, I want readers to have increased awareness of God's desire for a relationship with us. Finally, I hope the reader will be able to be aware of God's prevenient grace (whereby He initiates, seeking a relationship with us).

As I write this book, the coronavirus continues to rage, forcing many of us into solitude and isolation from family, friends, and neighbors. I view this as another means of spending time with God. It gives me the opportunity to focus on this work without interruption or distraction. I can feel God's presence and blessings as I write. I only pray that He will bless the reader to feel His presence as well. It continues to be a joyful experience for me. It has reinvigorated me with energy and passion to write more, even after this book is finished. Afterward, the plan is to write more and make books available in different media formats—such as print, audio, and even video, in various languages—and in workshops.

Introduction

This book originally served as my dissertation, to complete requirements for a degree of doctor of theology, at Newburgh Theological Seminary and College of the Bible. It consists of biblical stories of disobedience and violations against God and His commandments, as recorded in the book of Genesis. Besides scriptural references, the book also presents scholarly commentaries and references from Bible dictionaries and concordances. Furthermore, this book reflects some personal opinions and includes scholarly supportive references for such.

This book gives unprejudiced and uncensored attention to various forms of sin (disobedience and defiance to God and His Word) as