LIFE IN THE NUMBERS!
Genesis 5:1-32
A lot of people like to read. I am one of them. Many people like to read before they go to sleep. The reading helps them tire their mind, and than they go to sleep. Many Christians like to skip the genealogy parts in the Scriptures, because they make them sleepy.
You may tend to skip them too, but when you do so you may skip some important truths found there. Every word in the Bible is placed there for a purpose. I want us to learn from genealogies. Specifically, I want us to learn that there is “LIFE IN THE NUMBERS?” Studying from Genesis 5, I want us to see…
A. life’s origin,
B. its deception
C. And its true meaning.
[What is the origin of life?]
I. LIFE’S ORIGIN (1-2).
"This is the written account of Adam’s line. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. He created them male and female and blessed them. And when they were created, he called them ‘man.’" (Genesis 5:1-2)
A. Adam was the first man who lived on the planet earth.
B. He came straight from God.
1. The opening words of this passage say “When God created man…”
2. This passage teaches that God is the life’s origin.
3. Man was created by God, and he was created in God’s own likeness.
a. We may not be able to understand everything about what being in God’s likeness encompasses.
b. However, we do know that “God is spirit” (John 4:24), and therefore “does not have flesh and bones” as we do (Luke 24:39).
c. Whatever resemblance we are to have, it does not rest on the physical realm.
d. Because we are created in the image of God…
i. We are more than animals.
ii. We have ability to think.
iii. We are capable of showing and receiving love.
iv. We are worthy of honor and respect.
v. We are capable of knowing God.
C. We are not the result of huge number of random blind chances, but we are the creation of an intelligent God.
{While the divine origin is a reality, life offers today an deception}
II. LIFE’S DECEPTION (3-32)
A. The common thread that we see in the lives of these 10 (+ 3 of Noah’s sons) is that
1. They lived. Their life span was from 815 (Enosh) to 969 (Methuselah) years (with one exception that we will refer in a moment).
2. They had children. We are not told of all their children since the purpose of the genealogies is to point out to the promised seed of Genesis 3:15 who will crush Satan’s head.
3. They died. After some time they fall into the category of all men, they eventually die. No matter how long they lived, they all died.
B. Today people think that all there is to life is described in terms of…
1. We are born
2. We live up to certain age
3. We work
4. We advance in career
5. We get marry
6. Have children
7. We retire
8. And then we die.
C. We have bought into the imposture that this all there is to life.
1. Unfortunately, most people pursue this pattern of life.
2. They work and work and work to reach all the pleasures this life can afford, climb into the highest level of career, and step on everyone that will get in their way.
3. They do this to reach it all one day, and to find themselves to be empty and their life’s pursuit to be meaningless.
4. If this true than “…we are to be pitied more than all men.” (1 Cor 15:19b)!
{Thanks God there is more to life}
III. LIFE’S TRUE MEANING (21-24).
A. In the midst of this life pattern, we come to a man named Enoch. Not only he breaks the pattern life-children-death, but he also provides a hope beyond this pattern. "When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. And after he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years. Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away." (Genesis 5:21-24).
B. We are told about Enoch…
1. “…Enoch walked with God…” (22b, 24a).
a. We were told in verses 1-2 that life’s origin is God.
b. And in the person of Enoch, God the source and originator of life comes in the equation again.
c. None of the names mentioned before him, or after him in this passage do we hear about walking with God.
d. What does it mean to walk with God?
i. It means that you live for Him.
ii. It means that God is the center of your life.
2. “…then he was no more, because God took him away.” (24b).
a. God removed Enoch from earth. “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.” (Hebrews 11:5).
b. How? We are not told.
c. Where? God took him away, so he could be with God and not in the midst of this purposeless people.
C. Enoch speaks to us of the life’s true meaning.
1. We originated from God, and were made in His image. Don’t let anyone tell you that you are just an animal with conscience.
2. Until we bring God in the picture, then our lives will not have true meaning.
3. Enoch opens our minds to a reality that exists beyond this time and space. It is the reality and perspective of eternity.
CONCLUSION
Maybe, you too, have bought into life’s deception that all there is to life is “life-children-death.” We were created by God, in His image, and until we surrender our lives to Him than we are to going to have meaningless lives. The example of Enoch invites you to walk with God. If you want to know more, then we are here to help.
