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 separate: 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 the serpent and deceives humanity. By this deception mankind loses their position and authority.
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).
➡️ 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. (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.
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 a “mighty one” who begins to build his own kingdom, Nimrod. (Genesis 10:8-10)
Humanity seeks to follow after and build its own kingdom structures apart from God.
God confuses their language and as a punishment disinherits the nations. (Deuteronomy 32:8–9).
Yet God keeps a portion for Himself: Israel.
➡️ When man refuses to submit to God’s order, God scatters—but He also begins a new plan.
God Continues Through Abram (Deut. 32:10)
God calls Abram to start the plan new (Genesis 12:1–3).
He gives to Abram a promise and a covenant. (Genesis 15)
Through Abram, God promises:
A family.
A land.
A blessing to all nations.
This is the beginning of the story of Israel, through whom the Messiah would come and deal with all three rebellions once and for all.
From Abraham To Israel: A Mission To Be Different
God sets apart Israel to be a holy nation. But throughout their history the enemy tempts them with the same sins that plagued the nations. God sends them Prophets, Kings and Reformers to bring them back to the plan. But almost every season of repentance ultimately leads back to sin. And one of two Besetting Sin seem to be at the heart of every failure.
Two Core Sins:
Idolatry → worship of other gods.
Nations lived in idolatry.
God raised up a Priesthood to teach true worship (Exodus 28; Leviticus).
Commandment: Love God (Deuteronomy 6:5).
But their Idolatry would send them into a spiral Immorality.
Injustice → oppression and violence against one another.
Nations lived under injustice.
God raised up Kings to establish righteousness and peace.
Commandment: Love your neighbor (Leviticus 19:18).
Israel was supposed to care for the orphan and widow, the weak of society.
But they would use their power or influence for personal gain and Injustice led to Oppression.
➡️ Israel was to be a nation of priests and kings—a light to the nations (Exodus 19:6).
Fulfillment in Christ
Jesus Christ comes and crushes the Rebellion through the Cross and 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).
Through Him, God makes us:
A royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9).
Kings and priests to our God (Revelation 5:10).
Bearers of His light (Matthew 5:14–16).
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).
