God’s Plan and The Three Rebellions
From the very beginning, God had a plan. He created the earth not as a meaningless void, but as the foundation for His kingdom. His design was an earth in likeness to the Garden of Eden and full of the knowledge of His glory.
He wanted an earthly family, that would rule with Him in love. But into that plan came resistance—three great rebellions that sought to overturn God’s purpose.
Each rebellion brought new challenges, but none of them could stop the mission of God.
The Original State of the Earth (Genesis 1:1–2)
“The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” - Genesis 1:2
Without form (tohu) → desolate, chaotic.
Void (bohu) → empty, barren.
Darkness (choshek) → spiritual wickedness.
The world begins in a state of chaos. Yet, God intends to put things into Order and Peace.
God Begins His Plan for Creation
God speaks: “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3). Light drives out the darkness.
He creates and then separates: first the expanse or firmament (raqiya) to bring separation, order, and structure.
His plan: to establish Eden—a holy mountain and a garden—He begins to fill it with life, where His presence dwells and where His family rules (Genesis 1:26–28).
➡️ God always brings light out of darkness and order out of chaos.
The First Rebellion – The Garden (Genesis 3)
Satan appears as a serpent and deceives humanity. By this deception mankind loses their position and authority (not God’s calling) to rule on the earth.
Death enters the world (Romans 5:12).
Humanity is banished from Eden, separated from God’s presence.
Yet even in judgment, God does not give up on the plan. He gives a promise:
“The seed of the woman will crush the serpent’s head” (Genesis 3:15).
He will swallow up death forever. (Isaiah 25:8, I Cor. 15:54)
➡️ Darkness tried to stop the light, but God declared a future victory.
The Second Rebellion – The Watchers (Genesis 6:1–8)
The “sons of God” (Watchers, Daniel 4:13,17, 23) corrupt mankind through depravity and violence.
They break God’s boundaries, blurring heaven and earth and reproduce with the daughters of men. (Genesis 6:2, Jude 1:6)
These “angels” will be dealt with at the final judgement. (2 Peter 2:4-5)
God responds with the flood, but preserves the plan with Noah. (Genesis 6:13)
Scripture Anchors:
Genesis 5:29 → “This one will give us rest…” (Noah’s name = rest).
Genesis 6:8 → “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.”
➡️ God protects His plan by preserving a righteous remnant.
The Third Rebellion – Babel (Genesis 11:1–9)
God divided people (Gentiles) into all the nations (Genesis 10:5, 32).
You see the rise of “mighty ones” (from Genesis 6:4) who build their own kingdom, ex: Nimrod. (Genesis 10:8-10)
Humanity seeks to follow after and build its own kingdom structures apart from God. (Genesis 11:3-4)
God confuses their language (Genesis 11:6-7) and as a punishment disinherits the nations over to the rule of the “sons of God”. (Deuteronomy 32:8–9).
Deuteronomy 32:8 * translates according to number of the sons of God (Israel, wasn’t started yet) *translation found in the Dead Sea scrolls.
Yet God keeps a portion for Himself: Jacob (Deuteronomy 32:10)
➡️ When man refuses to submit to God’s order, God scatters and disinherits - but His plan remains.
God Continues Through Abram (Deut. 32:10)
Beginning again, God calls Abram to restart the original plan. (Genesis 12:1–3).
He gives to Abram a promise of an heir who will “bless the nations” (bring the nations back to Him) and makes a covenant that through Abram it will come to pass. (Genesis 15)
Through Abram, God promises:
A family.
A land.
A blessing to all nations.
➡️ This begins the story of Israel, through whom Messiah would come. The One who will redeem the plan and crush all three rebellions.
From Abraham To Israel: A Mission To Be Different (Exodus 19:6)
God sets apart Israel to be a holy nation. (Exodus 19:6, Deuteronomy 14:2) and the One through whom the Redeemer would come.
But throughout their history an enemy tries to hinder God’s plan and turn Israel away from God. (Isaiah 1:4)
The same sins start to plague Israel. So God sends them Prophets and Kings (2 Chronicles 6:38-39) to turn them back.
But almost every season of repentance ultimately leads to greater transgression (Daniel 9:11) and eventual captivity for Israel (2 Kings 17:6) and Judah (Jeremiah 25:11).
➡️ At the root, Israel’s transgression can be tied to one of two Besetting Sins, that opened the door for the enemy.
Israel’s Two Core Sins:
Idolatry → worship of other gods.
The other Nations were enslave to idolatry.
God raised up a Priesthood in Israel to teach true worship of the LORD (Exodus 28; Leviticus).
And He gave them a Commandment:That they were primarily to Love God (Deuteronomy 6:5).
But their Idolatry would send them into a spiral of failure and Immorality. (Jeremiah 23:11)
Injustice → oppression and violence against one another.
The world lived in a constant state of injustice, under the oppressive hands of earthly kings
God wanted to be their King, but raised up Kings to establish righteousness and peace.
He gave a 2nd Commandment:That they were to Love Neighbor (Leviticus 19:18).
Israel was supposed to be merciful; care for the poor, orphan and widow. (Micah 6:8)
But they would use their power for personal gain and greed led to Oppression.
➡️ Israel was to be a nation of priests and kings—a light to teach the nations the way (Exodus 19:6).
God Finishes The Work Himself
Jesus Christ in perfect time comes to crush the Rebellion through the Cross and His Resurrection.
Against the Adversary, by His own death, He defeats death (Hebrews 2:14–15).
Against the Watchers, He overcomes wickedness and triumphs over the powers (Colossians 2:15).
Against Babel’s scattering, Jesus ushers in the Great Commission to reclaims the nations (Acts 2; Matthew 28:18–20).
Now through Christ, we have been given the same assignment:
A royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9), teaching others about true worship (Romans 12:1-2).
A Kings and priests to our God (Revelation 1:6, 5:10), exercising leadership, authority and mercy.
Bearers of His light (Matthew 5:14–16), doing good works that others may glorify God.
The three rebellions tried to derail God’s plan, but they could not stop it. From chaos to order, from darkness to light, from rebellion to redemption—God’s plan has always been to have a family who would reign with Him in love.
We are called to teach people the two commandments, live out the two offices and stand against the two sins.
We are today in Christ: a kingdom of priests and kings, called to love God, love our neighbor, and bear His light until the earth is filled with the knowledge of His glory as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14).
