Discovering Genesis, Part 6
Genesis 5:1-32
Introduction
- Rev 4:11 says, “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”
- We saw last week info that is critical to our understanding of the issues we face
- Jude 1:11says, “they have gone the way of Cain …” (What’s this mean?)
-- Cain decided that his offering was fine; and there’s no reason for respect
- Cain comes with this ego the size of Israel that he and God are on the same level
- (v9) shows us Cain’s response: How dare God say these things to me?
-- As if to imply: “I don’t like what God is saying, so I will show Him!”
-- We do the same thing: I don’t like what the preacher said so I’ll just leave
-- Or, even more devastating: “I don’t like feeling convicted so everyone around me is about to have a VERY bad day because I can’t take it out on God.”
- (v13) If Cain’s punishment was greater than he could bear; why not just repent?
- God was providing the way by continuing to communicate; but he never learned
-- The provision God was making here was mercy through grace; as always (Jesus)
-- But Cain, in his pride still, requests to be hidden from God’s face (v14)
-- However, do you see the provision of God still on this murderer’s life?
- (v15) God puts a mark on him, and protects him for his entire life
-- There is no real relevance to what the mark is/was; but it signifies God’s hand
-- Protection is something God always desires for His children; if they repent
- This morning, we will see the first, and most amazing, reference to Jesus Christ
- Read Genesis 5:1-32
- Pray
Point 1 – A Hidden Message (1-32)
- God does something amazing here in Genesis Chapter 5
- He reveals these 10 generations, and has Moses record them; but why?
- The reason may actually surprise you; and this morning we will see why
- There are 10 generations listed in the beginning of Genesis
- These generations list the descendants of Adam and go straight to Noah
- We generally know about the flood (study starts tonight), but why these 10?
- After researching this and examining it, I think it will greatly surprise you
Adam
- Adam’s name means man. As the first man, that seems straight forward enough
-- Gen 2:7, “Then the LORD God formed a man[c] from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”
- The Hebrew for man (Adam) may be related to the Hebrew for ground (adamah)
Seth
- Adam’s son was named Seth, which means appointed.
-- Eve said, "God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him." (Genesis 4:25)
Enosh
- Seth’s son was called Enosh, which means mortal, frail, or miserable.
- This name is from the root word of “anash”, which means “to be incurable”
-- Also means “used of a wound, grief, woe, sickness, or wickedness”
- It was in the days of Enosh that men began to defile the name of the Living God.
Kenan
- Enosh’s son was named Kenan, which can mean sorrow, dirge, or requiem.
Mahalalel
- Kenan’s son was Mahalalel; Mahalal which means blessed or praise
- Very important: “El” is the name for God
- So, Mahalalel means the Blessed God
- Often Hebrew names include El, the name of God as a sign of respect, honor
-- As an example: Dan-i-el, "God is my Judge"
Jared
- Mahalalel’s son was named Jared
- This name comes from verb “yaradh” which means shall come down
Enoch
- Jared’s son was named Enoch, which means teaching, or commencement
- Enoch was the first of four generations of preachers; Enoch delivered earliest prophecy; he prophesied about the coming of Jesus recorded in Jude
-- Jude 14, “Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones 15 to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”
Methuselah
- Enoch was the father of Methuselah, his name means his death shall bring
- Enoch received the prophecy of the Great Flood, and was told that as long as his son was alive, the judgment of the flood would be withheld
- The year that Methuselah died, the flood came.
- Enoch never died: he was taken up to Heaven
-- Hebrews 11:5, “By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.”
Lamech
- Methuselah’s son was named Lamech
- His name comes from the root word of lament or lamentation
- Lamech’s name means despairing
Noah
- Lamech, of course, is the father of Noah is derived from “nacham”
- It means to bring rest or comfort, as Lamech himself explains in Genesis 5:29.
Point 2 – What Does it Mean?
When you examine all of these names something becomes very evident
- Man (is) appointed mortal sorrow; (but) the Blessed God shall come down teaching (that) His death shall bring (the) despairing rest.
- It demonstrates that in the earliest chapters of the Book of Genesis, God had already laid out His plan of redemption for the predicament of mankind.
- It is a love story, written in blood on a wooden cross which was erected in Judea almost 2,000 years ago.
- Who does God reveal in the beginning lineage of mankind? Jesus
- It is astonishing to discover how many Biblical controversies seem to evaporate if one simply recognized the unity the integrity of these 66 books, penned by 40 authors over thousands of years.
Conclusion
- Not only did God always plan to provide the way of redemption for man …
- He recorded it in history to show us that His Grace was always present
- So, where are you in your reconciliation to God today?
- Are you living fully for Him, or are you like Cain – one who lives for self?
- With every eye closed and every head bowed
- If God cared so much to provide His grace in Gen 5, how is it possible for you and me to turn on our backs on Him thousands of years later?
- God’s grace is available, but it means you MUST put down your pride
- It means that you MUST stop living for yourself; and allow Him to lead you
- Jesus taught His disciples that not everyone who calls Him “Lord” …
- Ask yourself: Are you right with the Lord today?
- Pray
