Genesis 5
"This Chapter Kills Me!" • 11.19.09 • Thursday Night Bible Study
Intro
- Coming to chapter 5, I think it appropriate to quickly recap what we have seen over these first four chapters of the Bible.
- There is great movement in these first four chapters, from heaven and space, to earth, to the formation of Man and his garden.
- From there, the movement turns outward beginning with the man, who is given a bride, becoming a couple. They conceive and bear children, making of course, a family.
- Their two sons, Cain and Seth then branch out into two parts of society. Last week, we looked at the line of Cain, who represents "secular" society.
- In his line, great advancements are made. There are advances in the realm of cattle raising, in the realm of music and therefore, culture and in metallurgy.
- They were brilliant and gifted, made moreso by the ability at this time to live for centuries.
- But their line is set on course by what we see in Genesis 4:16.
• Genesis 4:16 : "Then Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and dwelt in the land of Nod on the east of Eden."
- Cain chose a life divorced from any relationship to God. God, who is gracious to all men, allows them to flourish on this earth, but the entire line is godless and wicked, finding it's apex in Lamech, who like his forefather Cain, becomes a murderer.
- Sin and wickedness abound to such a degree that in just another chapter, we'll see that every thought and intent of the heart of man will be evil continuously.
- Then on the other side, we see Seth. His line begins "sacred" society." It's his line that we trace tonight and his line that will ultimately produce the seed that will crush the seed of the serpent and reverse the curse.
- With this chapter, we need to step back from our normal procedure of quoting a verse or verses and commenting upon them. Moses begins with these statements:
Text
• Genesis 5:1-3 : "This is the book of the genealogy of Adam. In the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God. He created them male and female, and blessed them and called them Mankind in the day they were created. And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years, and begot a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth." : The idea of genealogy is the recording of the generations that usually follow an individual.
- Adam's genealogy begins with God who created him in his own likeness, in His image. He created Adam with the ability to communicate and to create in the same way that He does.
- God blessed them and named them Mankind in the day that they were created. He named them, displaying both descendancy, as well as responsibility.
- God brought them into existence and gave them purpose and direction.
- Adam was the original image bearer, but you will notice the distinction made by Moses in the next verse. Adam begot a son in his own likeness, after his image.
- This refers to a transference of the sinful nature that man is now cursed with. God did not give that to Adam. However, version 2.0 comes with the sin virus!
- Sin, or an inclination deep in the heart of man to disobey and walk away from God, was not part of the likeness of God. There is nothing of that in Him, but there is nothing but that in each of us!
- We are all born in sin, wanting to sin, looking for ways to perfect sin! That comes from Adam.
- We still bear God's image and likeness, but sin has marred it's appearance.
- From here, we need to step back and take note of the structure of the rest of this chapter.
- There are 11 generations recorded here. Most of the men listed lived over 900 years! There are over 1600 years of history covered.
- You'll notice that this is not a complete geneaology. Adam had at least 2 other sons, but they are not mentioned. In fact, verse 4 tells that he had sons and daughters.
- Moses is not interested in giving us a complete family tree. He's just following a line.
- As you further note the structure, you'll see that there is a formula that is followed for all of the remaining verses in this chapter. Each man is given three verses. We'll take Adam's three verses, as an example.
• Genesis 5:3-5 : "And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years, and begot a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. After he begot Seth, the days of Adam were eight hundred years; and he had sons and daughters. So all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years; and he died." : Each member is a branch of the family tree. Each one begins with the Patriarch's age when the son, the next in succession is born.
- Then, Moses details the years lived after the birth.
- The final aspect is the sum total of years that the person lived.
- With Adam, we discover that he was 130 when he saw Seth come into the world. He lived 800 years more, having more sons and daughters during that time. At the end of his days, he lived 930 years! Adam lived over 9 centuries and then he died.
- Most of us today will be "lucky" if we can make it 9 decades!
- This leads us next to the implications of this passage.
- First, we have to deal with the age factor. These men all lived an extraordinaraliy long time.
- Adam had children before Seth, but had Seth at 130 years old. Noah had his children at 500.
- These men were not simply hanging on in their later years. These were vibrant men, filled with vigor and strength. How was this the case?
- This implies a very healthy lifestyle, as well as a very hospitable planet. Disease had not yet come into play. The water canopy shielded many of the suns harmful rays.
- I heard a Pastor say this week that he thought that the earth was enclosed with a pure oxygen atmosphere which precludes the growth of bacteria.
- More than anything, God sustained them and chose for them to live in this way.
- Imagine how smart they must have been. If you lived for so many years, imagine how good you would be at certain things!
- Scientists tell us that the average human being uses just 1 percent of their brain at the end of their 70 year life. Imagine how much more of their brain was used!
- A few other things draw our attention. Notice that there is no record of what these men did.
- Contrast that with the line of Cain in chapter 4, where we are given several details about what they did. Here, there are none.
- Why is that the case? Perhaps they all followed the way of Abel, who contented himself to be a shepherd.
- It may be simply that their lives matter more because of who they are related to. Why mention their exploits when you can focus attention upon the Savior?
- Then there is the matter of Enoch, who walked with God and was no more. What happened there? Take a look with me at verse 21.
• Genesis 5:21-23 : "Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah. After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him."
- He's fairly young for a Father in this line of people, at 65 years old, but this birth was sincerely profound to him. It says, after he begot Methuselah that Enoch walked with God.
- He is the only one of this group to have that distinction. Enoch is a pattern breaker!
- Enoch had a special relationship with the Lord. He walked with God. What does that mean particularly for Him, as well as for us?
- Amos 3:3 says:.
• Amos 3:3 : "Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?"
- The first step in walking together is agreement. I must agree with the one that I am walking with. In this case, if I am to walk with God, then I must agree with Him.
- I must agree that I am a sinner and He is the Savior. I must agree that I am a servant and He is the Master. I must agree that my ways are useless and His ways are perfect!
- If I cannot agree to these terms, I cannot walk with God.
- Turn with me to Hebrews 11. Enoch provides an illustration of the next principle for walking.
• Hebrews 11:5,6 : "By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, 'and was not found, because God had taken him'; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."
- Choosing daily, hourly to trust Christ for all is key to continuing our walk with Him.
- Notice though that this was not always the case. Did you notice the word "after?" Again, the implication is that Enoch began walking with the Lord after Methuselah's birth.
- I have seen many men turn from wicked ways at the sight of their children. Fatherhood, really parenthood, has a way of changing our perspectives, doesn't it?
- But this young child was given a name that was prophetic in nature. One commentator mentions that Methuselah's name contains a warning of judgment to come at the time of his death!
- That commentator says that his name means "when he dies, the end will come!"
- Could you imagine that? Every time Methuselah got hurt or caught the flu, the whole town probably rallied to the Lord for prayer!
- When you follow the numbers from Genesis 5 and 6, you will see that Methuselah did in fact die in the same year as the flood. His life was a reminder that judgment was coming.
- Just a side note here. Methuselah lived 969 years. Talk about the mercy of the Lord being great towards those who don't know Him!
- As a result, we see that Enoch was a man among this group of men that went from walking with God to prophecying for Him.
- Turn with me to the book of Jude. Enoch was not silent when it came to the wickedness that He saw in the line of Cain.
• Jude 14,15 : "Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, 'Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.'"
- Enoch was a prophet, who walked with God for 300 years and then, he was gone. Not dead, but just gone! God took him. He is the first man in the Bible not to die.
- Finally, Moses shares with us the way that God's ways were transmitted.
- He lived 930 years. That means that when Lamech was born, Adam was 874 years old. He had 56 years to communicate first hand information to the man that would be the father of Noah!
- This means that Noah would have the collective experience of men who had lived from the very inception of the creation. He would have direct information about the nature of God and Man's relationship!
Conclusion
- Now, having looked at the structure and implications of chapter 5, we come to the ramifications of Genesis 5. What should Genesis 5 mean to us?
- First, God is faithful, in the face of sin, to preserve a line of hope! In the midst of growing chaos, wickedness and evil in the world at the time of these men, God still had saints.
- Turn with me I Kings 19. Elijah is a prophet who has just singlehandedly killed 400 prophets of Baal. There was a showdown and God won. After that, Jezebel the Queen said, "Tomorrow, I'm going to kill you!" Elijah, the man of God, ran from the sole woman!
- The equation then is this: What's scarier than 400 men? Just 1 woman!!
- He's on a mountain and he feels like he's the only one fighting this fight. God steps in and lets him in on a little secret.
• I Kings 19:18 : "Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.'"
- Turn now to Romans 11. Paul applies this verse to the people of God at his time.
• Romans 11:2-5 : "God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, 'Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life'? But what does the divine response say to him? 'I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.' Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace."
- No matter how bad things get, God is always working, keeping for Himself a remnant of people that are faithful to Him.
- The second application that we can make is that God's word is truth. With the excepion of Enoch, each one of these godly, righteous men died. God had said it would happen and here, like a pounding hammer, the Word proclaims over and over again: And He died.
- This is a sobering reality, but it must be mentioned. God will not be mocked. Adam's sin produces physical death. Our's brings death as well.
- Satan told a bold face lie when he told Eve that she would not surely die!
- It hangs over each of us like a dark cloud and one day, death will take each of us, no matter how godly we are. But this brings me to our final point.
- For years, there has been fanciful treatments of the names of Genesis 5. Today, it's difficult to find three guys that agree on the translations of each of the names seen here.
- But two names are almost universally agreed upon. Adam, means mankind and Noah means "rest."
- The picture is that Mankind is being led through history to rest. God promises that no matter how bad things become, how unstable things might be, He has and will always provide rest!
- This is where God is leading you and I. He is leading us to rest in Him!
- It's fascinating because Noah's life is a life that will bring judgment to the world. The picture is beautiful: Jesus' life would do the same!
- For those who love and obey God, there is rest, but in the same person, there is also judgment. We either fall on our knees and submit to Christ in this life or we will fall on our knees and be forced to confess Christ as Lord in eternity.
"This Chapter Kills Me!" • 11.19.09 • Thursday Night Bible Study
Intro
- Coming to chapter 5, I think it appropriate to quickly recap what we have seen over these first four chapters of the Bible.
- There is great movement in these first four chapters, from heaven and space, to earth, to the formation of Man and his garden.
- From there, the movement turns outward beginning with the man, who is given a bride, becoming a couple. They conceive and bear children, making of course, a family.
- Their two sons, Cain and Seth then branch out into two parts of society. Last week, we looked at the line of Cain, who represents "secular" society.
- In his line, great advancements are made. There are advances in the realm of cattle raising, in the realm of music and therefore, culture and in metallurgy.
- They were brilliant and gifted, made moreso by the ability at this time to live for centuries.
- But their line is set on course by what we see in Genesis 4:16.
• Genesis 4:16 : "Then Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and dwelt in the land of Nod on the east of Eden."
- Cain chose a life divorced from any relationship to God. God, who is gracious to all men, allows them to flourish on this earth, but the entire line is godless and wicked, finding it's apex in Lamech, who like his forefather Cain, becomes a murderer.
- Sin and wickedness abound to such a degree that in just another chapter, we'll see that every thought and intent of the heart of man will be evil continuously.
- Then on the other side, we see Seth. His line begins "sacred" society." It's his line that we trace tonight and his line that will ultimately produce the seed that will crush the seed of the serpent and reverse the curse.
- With this chapter, we need to step back from our normal procedure of quoting a verse or verses and commenting upon them. Moses begins with these statements:
Text
• Genesis 5:1-3 : "This is the book of the genealogy of Adam. In the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God. He created them male and female, and blessed them and called them Mankind in the day they were created. And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years, and begot a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth." : The idea of genealogy is the recording of the generations that usually follow an individual.
- Adam's genealogy begins with God who created him in his own likeness, in His image. He created Adam with the ability to communicate and to create in the same way that He does.
- God blessed them and named them Mankind in the day that they were created. He named them, displaying both descendancy, as well as responsibility.
- God brought them into existence and gave them purpose and direction.
- Adam was the original image bearer, but you will notice the distinction made by Moses in the next verse. Adam begot a son in his own likeness, after his image.
- This refers to a transference of the sinful nature that man is now cursed with. God did not give that to Adam. However, version 2.0 comes with the sin virus!
- Sin, or an inclination deep in the heart of man to disobey and walk away from God, was not part of the likeness of God. There is nothing of that in Him, but there is nothing but that in each of us!
- We are all born in sin, wanting to sin, looking for ways to perfect sin! That comes from Adam.
- We still bear God's image and likeness, but sin has marred it's appearance.
- From here, we need to step back and take note of the structure of the rest of this chapter.
- There are 11 generations recorded here. Most of the men listed lived over 900 years! There are over 1600 years of history covered.
- You'll notice that this is not a complete geneaology. Adam had at least 2 other sons, but they are not mentioned. In fact, verse 4 tells that he had sons and daughters.
- Moses is not interested in giving us a complete family tree. He's just following a line.
- As you further note the structure, you'll see that there is a formula that is followed for all of the remaining verses in this chapter. Each man is given three verses. We'll take Adam's three verses, as an example.
• Genesis 5:3-5 : "And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years, and begot a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. After he begot Seth, the days of Adam were eight hundred years; and he had sons and daughters. So all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years; and he died." : Each member is a branch of the family tree. Each one begins with the Patriarch's age when the son, the next in succession is born.
- Then, Moses details the years lived after the birth.
- The final aspect is the sum total of years that the person lived.
- With Adam, we discover that he was 130 when he saw Seth come into the world. He lived 800 years more, having more sons and daughters during that time. At the end of his days, he lived 930 years! Adam lived over 9 centuries and then he died.
- Most of us today will be "lucky" if we can make it 9 decades!
- This leads us next to the implications of this passage.
- First, we have to deal with the age factor. These men all lived an extraordinaraliy long time.
- Adam had children before Seth, but had Seth at 130 years old. Noah had his children at 500.
- These men were not simply hanging on in their later years. These were vibrant men, filled with vigor and strength. How was this the case?
- This implies a very healthy lifestyle, as well as a very hospitable planet. Disease had not yet come into play. The water canopy shielded many of the suns harmful rays.
- I heard a Pastor say this week that he thought that the earth was enclosed with a pure oxygen atmosphere which precludes the growth of bacteria.
- More than anything, God sustained them and chose for them to live in this way.
- Imagine how smart they must have been. If you lived for so many years, imagine how good you would be at certain things!
- Scientists tell us that the average human being uses just 1 percent of their brain at the end of their 70 year life. Imagine how much more of their brain was used!
- A few other things draw our attention. Notice that there is no record of what these men did.
- Contrast that with the line of Cain in chapter 4, where we are given several details about what they did. Here, there are none.
- Why is that the case? Perhaps they all followed the way of Abel, who contented himself to be a shepherd.
- It may be simply that their lives matter more because of who they are related to. Why mention their exploits when you can focus attention upon the Savior?
- Then there is the matter of Enoch, who walked with God and was no more. What happened there? Take a look with me at verse 21.
• Genesis 5:21-23 : "Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah. After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him."
- He's fairly young for a Father in this line of people, at 65 years old, but this birth was sincerely profound to him. It says, after he begot Methuselah that Enoch walked with God.
- He is the only one of this group to have that distinction. Enoch is a pattern breaker!
- Enoch had a special relationship with the Lord. He walked with God. What does that mean particularly for Him, as well as for us?
- Amos 3:3 says:.
• Amos 3:3 : "Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?"
- The first step in walking together is agreement. I must agree with the one that I am walking with. In this case, if I am to walk with God, then I must agree with Him.
- I must agree that I am a sinner and He is the Savior. I must agree that I am a servant and He is the Master. I must agree that my ways are useless and His ways are perfect!
- If I cannot agree to these terms, I cannot walk with God.
- Turn with me to Hebrews 11. Enoch provides an illustration of the next principle for walking.
• Hebrews 11:5,6 : "By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, 'and was not found, because God had taken him'; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."
- Choosing daily, hourly to trust Christ for all is key to continuing our walk with Him.
- Notice though that this was not always the case. Did you notice the word "after?" Again, the implication is that Enoch began walking with the Lord after Methuselah's birth.
- I have seen many men turn from wicked ways at the sight of their children. Fatherhood, really parenthood, has a way of changing our perspectives, doesn't it?
- But this young child was given a name that was prophetic in nature. One commentator mentions that Methuselah's name contains a warning of judgment to come at the time of his death!
- That commentator says that his name means "when he dies, the end will come!"
- Could you imagine that? Every time Methuselah got hurt or caught the flu, the whole town probably rallied to the Lord for prayer!
- When you follow the numbers from Genesis 5 and 6, you will see that Methuselah did in fact die in the same year as the flood. His life was a reminder that judgment was coming.
- Just a side note here. Methuselah lived 969 years. Talk about the mercy of the Lord being great towards those who don't know Him!
- As a result, we see that Enoch was a man among this group of men that went from walking with God to prophecying for Him.
- Turn with me to the book of Jude. Enoch was not silent when it came to the wickedness that He saw in the line of Cain.
• Jude 14,15 : "Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, 'Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.'"
- Enoch was a prophet, who walked with God for 300 years and then, he was gone. Not dead, but just gone! God took him. He is the first man in the Bible not to die.
˚ "Enoch represents all the elect, all who believe. Because we walk with God, too. We walk with God by faith. We've been reconciled to God; we're agreed with Him; we love Him; we commune with Him. We walk in sanctification and holy obedience. It doesn't say that he had thoughts about God; it doesn't say he philosophized about God; it doesn't say he believed in God; it doesn't say he talked about God; it doesn't say he read about God. It says he walked with God. And he walked with God right into heaven."
- This verse shows us the wickedness that was so prevalent at this time. There was already rampant wickedness at this time of the world because of sin.
John Macarthur
- Finally, Moses shares with us the way that God's ways were transmitted.
- He lived 930 years. That means that when Lamech was born, Adam was 874 years old. He had 56 years to communicate first hand information to the man that would be the father of Noah!
- This means that Noah would have the collective experience of men who had lived from the very inception of the creation. He would have direct information about the nature of God and Man's relationship!
Conclusion
- Now, having looked at the structure and implications of chapter 5, we come to the ramifications of Genesis 5. What should Genesis 5 mean to us?
- First, God is faithful, in the face of sin, to preserve a line of hope! In the midst of growing chaos, wickedness and evil in the world at the time of these men, God still had saints.
- Turn with me I Kings 19. Elijah is a prophet who has just singlehandedly killed 400 prophets of Baal. There was a showdown and God won. After that, Jezebel the Queen said, "Tomorrow, I'm going to kill you!" Elijah, the man of God, ran from the sole woman!
- The equation then is this: What's scarier than 400 men? Just 1 woman!!
- He's on a mountain and he feels like he's the only one fighting this fight. God steps in and lets him in on a little secret.
• I Kings 19:18 : "Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.'"
- Turn now to Romans 11. Paul applies this verse to the people of God at his time.
• Romans 11:2-5 : "God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, 'Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life'? But what does the divine response say to him? 'I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.' Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace."
- No matter how bad things get, God is always working, keeping for Himself a remnant of people that are faithful to Him.
- The second application that we can make is that God's word is truth. With the excepion of Enoch, each one of these godly, righteous men died. God had said it would happen and here, like a pounding hammer, the Word proclaims over and over again: And He died.
- This is a sobering reality, but it must be mentioned. God will not be mocked. Adam's sin produces physical death. Our's brings death as well.
- Satan told a bold face lie when he told Eve that she would not surely die!
- It hangs over each of us like a dark cloud and one day, death will take each of us, no matter how godly we are. But this brings me to our final point.
- For years, there has been fanciful treatments of the names of Genesis 5. Today, it's difficult to find three guys that agree on the translations of each of the names seen here.
- But two names are almost universally agreed upon. Adam, means mankind and Noah means "rest."
- The picture is that Mankind is being led through history to rest. God promises that no matter how bad things become, how unstable things might be, He has and will always provide rest!
- This is where God is leading you and I. He is leading us to rest in Him!
- It's fascinating because Noah's life is a life that will bring judgment to the world. The picture is beautiful: Jesus' life would do the same!
- For those who love and obey God, there is rest, but in the same person, there is also judgment. We either fall on our knees and submit to Christ in this life or we will fall on our knees and be forced to confess Christ as Lord in eternity.
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