Goodly, Badly, Ugly

Articles

by Pastor Richard Thong

16 June 2024

From the very beginning, God created Adam in His likeness. Genesis 5 details the 10 generations from Adam to Noah. After the fall, Adam begot a son in his own likeness, inheriting the fallen nature of man. This cycle continued through generations.

Genesis 5:1–2 (NKJV)

1 This is the book of the genealogy of Adam. In the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God. 2 He created them male and female and blessed them and called them Mankind in the day they were created.

Adam, recognized as a son of God (Luke 3:38), was like a son to God before becoming a father himself. Over time, human wickedness and ugliness became evident.

Enoch and Noah

Despite the general wickedness, Enoch walked with God and was taken by Him, even prophesying about the Lord’s second coming.

Genesis 5:22, 24 (NKJV)

22 After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years and had sons and daughters. 24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.

Jude 14–15 (NKJV)

14 Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints 15 to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”

In his time, Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

Genesis 6:8–9 (NKJV)

8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. 9 This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God.

Three Fathers in the Bible

Reuel | Jethro | Hobab

Reuel, a priest of Midian and father-in-law to Moses, displayed commendable virtues through his actions:

Goodly Moments: He welcomed Moses, rejoiced in God's goodness, offered sacrifices, and provided wise counsel.
Virtues: Godly, Priestly, Fatherly, Friendly, Prudent, Tactful.

Laban

Laban, the son of Bethuel and father of Leah and Rachel, exhibited several negative traits:

Badly Moments: Deceived Jacob into marrying Leah, manipulated Jacob's wages, and mistreated his daughters.
Vices: Worldly, Materialistic, Selfish, Corrupt, Unjust, Deceptive.

Psalm 51:5 (NKJV)

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.

To overcome our fleshly nature, we need to be born again and renewed in our minds.

Judah

Judah, the fourth son of Leah and Jacob, faced several moral failures:

Ugly Moments: Sold his brother Joseph, deceived his father, and committed sexual sin with Tamar.
Images: Dishonorable, Regrettable, Horrifying, Weak, Judgmental, Sad.

Conclusion

We are created in God's likeness and called to reflect His image, characterized by grace, beauty, and faithfulness. Despite human flaws, God's redemptive and restorative work continues.

Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

There is hope in Christ, who makes everything beautiful in its time.