Walking with God

 August 14, 2020 (Friday)

 

Genesis 5 records the decedents of Adam through Noah. The recorded line is supposed to be the righteous line of Seth. One of the things that jump out at modern man is the long lives lived. This chapter details 1500 years of human history. Not to be missed, this is also the early genealogy of the Messiah; Jesus. Also note, the names before the tower of Babel are all in Hebrew.

 

This begins the second “toledot” (book, written account) in Genesis. It starts, “This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God.” [Genesis 5:1 ESV] It starts reasserting God created humanity. Wesley observed, since “Man is not his own maker, therefore he must not be his own master.”

 

Wesley continues his observation about this verse, “That God made him in his own likeness, righteous and holy, and therefore undoubtedly happy…” Happiness must have been part of God’s original design for creation and humanity. Throughout the Bible righteousness and holiness are linked to happiness (a.k.a. “blessed”).

 

When we look at the genealogy, there is a formula. Adam LIVED 130 year, FATHERED Seth, LIVED another 800 years, had OTHER sons and daughters, lived a TOTAL of 930 years, and finally DIED. This formula is followed until we get to Enoch. Genesis 5:22 states, “Enoch walked with God…” [Genesis 5:22a ESV]

 

The result, “Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.” [Genesis 5:24 ESV]  The word “walked” is also used of Adam and Eve walking with God. Jude 14 mentions Enoch as “the seventh from Adam.” This indicates, there are no gaps in the genealogy. If we trace Cain’s line, the seventh would have been Lamech (see Genesis 4:23 – 24). Big contrast.

 

Enoch did not suffer the results of sin. He did not die, physically, in the sense we understand. Instead he was “translated,” a picture of what a “rapture” would look like. Okay, I’m stretching the point; but if God took Enoch then God can do whatever He wants with us, in this generation.

 

Even though we are tracing the line of Jesus, through Seth, all is not well. Humanity continues it’s deep, dark, and depressing plunge into sin. Sin is progressive, addictive, and aggressive.  Physical death was intended to be an illustration to drive home the cost of sin.  This spiritual death is something EVERY human has outside a saving and right relationship with God.