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.
Cain’s family were great inventors. There was Cain the city builder, Jabal the herder of cattle and tent dweller his brother Jubal was one who had a talent for music and their half-brother Tubal-cain was the first iron worker. Oh there was talent in this family. Oh what talent but oh what arrogance. Men can still be successful without God. Well that is success from the world’s perspective. Not having a lot of money does not mean that God is not with us or blessing us.
Seth’s generation (maybe not all) called upon the name of the Lord. Hebrews 11:10, 16; 13:14
They realized the importance of the presence of the Lord. This is the opposite of their cousins. They also showed their dependence on him. Whereas Cain’s family wanted to earn their own way. They wanted to be independent.
This is not to say that everyone in the lineage of Seth followed after God but there were many more than in the lineage of Cain who did not even recognize there being a God.
God will always have his few. He will always have his remnant. If you ever fill like you are fighting this battle alone just look around you can always find the remnant of the Lord.
In every Christian there should be an unsettlement. There should be a restlessness. There should be a discomfort. There should be a dissatisfaction.
Contrast of Generations shown in the contrast of two major characters.
Lamech of the lineage of Cain
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. (Genesis 4:23-24 AV)
Lamech was a man of arrogance. We don’t know many details about the story but I believe it is more than just a story of self-defense. Some of these Postcards of People don’t have much written about them but it is what is written about them that is important.
You know when we die people won’t remember everything about us. They won’t remember all the many years that we lived hear on earth. But what is important is what little bit they will remember. What kind of mark did we make on the earth? What kind of difference did we make?
Enoch of the lineage of Seth
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)
Something happened to Enoch. For sixty five years Enoch was just as the others were. His dependence was not on the Lord but on himself. But something happened with the birth of Methuselah. The Bible tells us that after Methuselah was born “Enoch walked with God”. (Methuselah’s name means “man of dart or “his death will send”). The flood is sent the year Methuselah dies)
Question: Do you think that the birth of Methuselah changed Enoch?
There is just something about a child that will change you. I may have been as Enoch watched his child being born he was remined again of the heritage of the Lord and his creator.
It takes a cold heart for one to still believe in abortion after seeing a child born.
Enoch walked with God
Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Enoch drew God down from heaven.
Not only did Enoch walk with God but God walked with Enoch. He came down to restore the fellowship that he once had with Adam. As in the cool of the day Adam and God would talk so to a certain extent ( but not near as much as God would have it) it was restored.
Can you think of any other Bible characters who “walked with God”.
As Abraham did
This was as Abraham walking with the Lord and God walking between the sacrifices as a smoldering lamp.
As Jacob did
Or as the angel who wrestled with Jacob
As Joseph did
As Moses did
When Moses and Aaron stood before Pharaoh, Pharaoh only saw two but he missed the third person standing with them. He missed the Lord if he had only seen the Lord who was with Moses and Aaron he would have done things differently. Yet mockingly Pharaoh said, “Who is this God that I should obey him?” He would soon eat those words as he witnessed the destruction of his kingdom and his army.
As Elijah did on Mt. Carmel
As Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego did
or as the one who was “like the son of man” in the fiery furnace with Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego in Daniel. All through history God’s desire has been to walk with man as long as man will walk with him.
When you walk with God you always receive a divine visitation
Conclusion
Are we walking with God or are we contrary to God? God would rather you walk with him. If you walk against him you will eventually lose.
