Friday, January 12, 2024

Genesis 5





WEEK 2                                                     
 Genesis 5  

FRIDAY  Reflections

I wonder about many of the stories behind the stories in this chapter. What was it like to live so long? What happened to Enoch when his child was born that caused him to start following God so closely that God took him away? Where did Enoch go? And if I could get away with what the ancient Israelites did and only put the important people in my family tree and leave out the rest (probably not)? What was the deal with Methuselah’s name (man of the dart or judgment is coming) and why did he live so long? What was the deal with Noah bringing comfort concerning God’s curse? All good and interesting subjects but not what I am going to look at.

At the beginning of the chapter, we are reminded that God created male and female and called them Adam (Adam meaning earth, to be red, or to make). This showed equality between men and women. It is also said that God made them (male and female) in his image. Could this be that even in a smaller form, a likeness, an image of God, that just one being could not contain what God truly is? I think maybe. However, the interesting thing is that the man and the woman were made in God’s image.

The problem comes later when Adam has children. They are now in Adam’s image, not God’s. Something has happened, we know it as the fall, as sin entering into man. Sin changed Adam (and Eve) and now their children bear their fallen image not the image of God. Because of this image change, man doesn’t seek God naturally. The groundwork is laid for the next chapter. 

The sad note is that our image is passed on to our children. Without a change, they will be just like us. However, that may not be a bad thing. Our children bearing our image may be a good thing if we reflect the image of God. We see Enoch changed and I can’t help but think the covenant God offers to Noah is a result of Enoch’s walk with God. 


LISTEN HERE

Gen 5:1-32
(1)  This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;
(2)  Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.
(3)  And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:
(4)  And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters:
(5)  And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.
(6)  And Seth lived an hundred and five years, and begat Enos:
(7)  And Seth lived after he begat Enos eight hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters:
(8)  And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years: and he died.
(9)  And Enos lived ninety years, and begat Cainan:
(10)  And Enos lived after he begat Cainan eight hundred and fifteen years, and begat sons and daughters:
(11)  And all the days of Enos were nine hundred and five years: and he died.
(12)  And Cainan lived seventy years, and begat Mahalaleel:
(13)  And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters:
(14)  And all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years: and he died.
(15)  And Mahalaleel lived sixty and five years, and begat Jared:
(16)  And Mahalaleel lived after he begat Jared eight hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters:
(17)  And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight hundred ninety and five years: and he died.
(18)  And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and he begat Enoch:
(19)  And Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:
(20)  And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died.
(21)  And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:
(22)  And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:
(23)  And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:
(24)  And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
(25)  And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years, and begat Lamech:
(26)  And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred eighty and two years, and begat sons and daughters:
(27)  And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died.
(28)  And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son:
(29)  And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed.
(30)  And Lamech lived after he begat Noah five hundred ninety and five years, and begat sons and daughters:
(31)  And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years: and he died.
(32)  And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

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