Conscience
Once man ate of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, he gained knowledge of both good and evil. God expected man to choose the good and to forsake evil,(in effect desiring man to follow his conscience.)
In addition, fellowship with God could be restored by
1. calling on the Name of the Lord,
2. loving and worshipping Him,
3. obediently offering acceptable blood sacrifices.
Mans failure was so severe under this covenant that God was sorry he had even made man, and He decided to destroy the earth in a world-wide flood. Unlike other covenants in the Bible where man's covenant obligations are specifically spelled-out in the scripture, much of what we know about the covenant of conscience is not directly stated in the Word, but is inferred by the actions of both God and man.
Covenant Obligations:
Genesis 3:21 God kills an animal to make clothing for Adam and Eve. (Many view God's action here as declaring a principle which is further developed in subsequent covenants - that without the shedding of blood there can be no remission or "covering" of sin.)
Genesis 3:22 After eating from the forbidden tree, man now has the knowledge of both good and evil.
Genesis 4:3-7 Cain offers an offering of vegetables and Abel offers a blood sacrifice. God is pleased with Abel's blood sacrifice but not Cain's offering. God indicates that Cain knows how to give a proper sacrifice, and will be accepted if he does so.
Genesis 4:26 Righteous men called on the Name of the Lord.
Man's failure ends in judgment:
Genesis 6:5-7 Wickedness on the Earth was so great, God felt sorry he had ever made man and decided to destroy the Earth in a world-wide flood.
Genesis 6:8-9 A righteous man named Noah found Grace in the eyes of the Lord.
Genesis 6:13-15 God instructs Noah to build an ark to save his family and the animals.
Genesis 7:11-24 The great flood.
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