After Ham's rebellion, he moved his family south, away from the highlands and into the flatlands. From Ham's progeny, at least two great empires arose: the Mesopotamian empire and the Egyptian empire. Both centralized their power in great cities. Their kings surrounded themselves with lesser kings and princes, consolidating authority through military might, controlling commerce and trade, and establishing state religion.
The Order of Adam had always been fulfilled through family worship, each father approaching God directly and teaching his family to do the same. Yet these kings set up priests and prophets who claimed to speak to God on behalf of the people and who worshipped on their behalf. The people were taught that without these priests, they could not be saved. The great empires introduced large, grandiose temples with sacred places only the priests could enter. They separated the people from God while directing them to follow the gods they chose. This was the beginning of institutionalized religion and it stood in direct opposition to the Order of Adam.
The previous sections of this site have lightly talked about Adam and the patriarchs. Now we will discuss the children of Israel. Jacob lived the Order of Adam, he built alters, he dug wells that blessed generations, he wrestled with God and was blessed by Him and given a new name, Israel.
Genesis 32:
24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.
30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.
Jacobs family was saved by God from a famine and taken into Egypt and given the land of Gershon. Jacob died in Egypt and not long after his son Joseph died a Pharoh came into power who knew not Joseph and he soon made slaves of the Israelites. For some 400 years they lived in Egypt.
Moses an Isralite who was raised in Pharohs house for 40 years, fled Egypt as a fugitive. He came to Jethro's family and was welcomed in. Over the next 40 years he worship with Jethro as a part of his family for he married one of Jethros daughters. Moses was taught the Order of Adam and offered an acceptable sacrifice before God. God spoke to Moses and guided him to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt.
Not long after being delivered from Egypt, God directed Moses to bring the people into that same relationship as all the righteous patriarchs before. He offered them the Order of Adam.
Exodus 19:5–6
Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.
While Moses was on the mountain communing with God, the people made a golden calf and worshiped as the Egyptians do.
Exodus 32:6
And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.
God's response was severe. Moses commanded the Levites to go through the camp and the judgment that followed was decisive.
Exodus 32:27–28
Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side...and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour. And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.
Through this and other experiences it was clear the children of Israel wanted to emulate the Egyptian style of life. Therefore God gave them priests to worship for them and many commandments and judgements.
Numbers 3:12–13
Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn… therefore the Levites shall be mine; Because all the firstborn are mine… on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel.
This was not what was taught to Adam however it was what the people wanted and God will not force anyone. This system was to lead them unto the Messiah who was to come. It also still incorporated the heart of the Order of Adam.
Deuteronomy 6:5
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Leviticus 19:18
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
For the next 1,500 years God would raise prophets from among them who were able to live the Order of Adam and offer an acceptable sacrifice and come into the presence of God. The children of Israel would reject them every time. Next we will discuss the Messiah.