Lamech & Enoch Series

Title: Contrast of two generations

Theme:

Text: Genesis 4:19,23-26 5:21-24

Opening Verse

Romans 8:1 ¶ There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. (Genesis 4:19 AV)

And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt. If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.

And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD. (Genesis 4:23-26 AV)

And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. (Genesis 5:21-24 AV)

Introduction

God created Adam in his likeness. But when Adam had children they were now of his seed. The sin seed that was passed. As we mentioned last Sunday you don’t have to go far in the generations of Adam to see sin. Sin abounded much. Sin was present, sin as envy, sin as pride, sin as jealously, sin as arrogance, and sin as murder.

Question:

What does it mean to be made in God’s image and likeness? Genesis 1:26

Genesis 9:6 talks about the shedding of blood and how evil it is because we were made in God’s image.

When we left last week the world was in a predicament. It would be safe to say that the first two chapters of Genesis are the high points of the Old Testament. The Bible tells us that on the end of the sixth day Gen. 1:31 “God saw every thing that he had made, and behold it was very good.” Things were going well. If we were to end on these two chapters everything would be alright. But the fact is in the Old Testament we have 927 more chapters and it would seem that except for a few high points everything goes down hill from here.

If it were not for God stepping in and desiring to once again walk with man as he did with Adam we would be in trouble.

After chapter two we see the fall of Adam and Eve and the beginning of sin and its affect on this world. Romans 5:12 “For by one man sin came into the world.” With it came all the affects. With it came sickness, with it came hurt, with it came pain, with it came death. Except for two people Enoch, one who we will talk about today, and Elijah, who went home in a chariot of fire, every one born would have to experience death.

From Adam and Eve came Cain and Abel. We talked about them last Sunday. In it we see the affects of sin quickly. For in Cain jealously and rage leads to a pre-meditated murder of his first brother. Not only that but a hardened heart who rejected God and his desire to forgive. Cain was not too far from forgiveness actually he was only one prayer of repentance away. Yet he as many chose to reject God and the Bible tells us Gen. 4:16 “And Cain went out form the presence of the Lord”. Question: What does this mean? Oh what sad words. Cain was so hard hearted. Some people just won’t listen and have to have it their way. Even toward God.

Oh if we were to end hear we would be in trouble. A murderer on the lose and what seemed to be no hope in sight. How ever would God fulfill that promise made to Adam and Eve of a redeemer “a serpent bruiser”?

Then there was Seth. Adam and Eve again bear another child. They called him Seth. Eve breathed a sigh of relief. Seth means “appointed” or compensation, or in place of. It must have worried Eve to lose both of her sons and even a daughter (Cain had to marry someone) yet God replaced them with Seth. God’s plan would continue.

Contrast of two generations – Permanent or Temporary

Cain’s generation continued but in mark contrast to that of Seth’s.

In Cain’s lineage there would be many great inventions. Cain himself began by building cities. Building great edifices and naming them after his children. This was only a distraction from what he had truly lost. Many people wrap themselves up in this world to avoid what they are missing from the Lord. Hoping they will find peace in satisfaction in their job, their name or their accomplishments. But we must realize it is not how our name is known here on earth but how our name is known in heaven. We can have great cities named after us. They can build great statues in honor of us, we can even have our face carved in the side of Mt. Rushmore but if our name is not written in the lambs book of life it is all meaningless.