INTRODUCTION
Greetings to you all in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. It’s a blessing to worship with you and share from God’s word.
Few weeks ago, the chaplain contacted me to sign me for preaching. Since he called me, I’ve been thinking about what to preach. It’s around the same time we had a brief discussion in the faculty whatsapp group about a forwarded message from Genesis 5. The message says that the names mentioned in Genesis 5 contain cryptic/hidden codes that, if properly translated, lead us to the gospel message about Christ. Whenever I hear words such as “hidden” “secret”, alarm goes off in my mind. As a OT scholar, I am cautious not to make extractions, beyond what is present in the text. And so, I thought I’d revisit Genesis 5 this morning, to see its Christological significance and draw out some biblical lessons today.
Genesis 5 contains a genealogy. Its a tedious passage to read. It might seem simply too repetitive, and even irrelevant. As Christians, how can we understand and preach this passage christologically? Is it possible to preach this passage christologically? If Jesus said the Scripture speaks of Him, and this stands as part of the inspired scripture, how can we discern its Christological significance? Or is it even right to pose such a question on this seeming dark passage.
TWO REASONS:
I believe it is right to approach this text christologically for two reasons.
First, when we look at Gen 5: 1, it begins “This is the written account of Adam. KJV says that it is the book of genealogy of Adam. Hebrew words used here is “safer toledot”, in Septuagint translates it as “biblos genesios”. This phrase “biblos genesios” appears only twice in the bible apart from Genesis 5:1. Genesis 2:4, this is the book of the generations of the heavens and the earth. Then it appears in 5:1., “this is the book of genealogy of Adam.” Then it comes interestingly in Matthew 1:1, this is the book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ. I think Genesis 5 is anticipating Matthew 1 and Matthew 1 is definitely alluding to Genesis 5. Why is it so? Genesis 5 is the genealogy of the first Adam. And Mt 1 is the genealogy of the last Adam. Do you see the connection here? The head of the old creation was Adam, the head of the new creation is Jesus Christ.
A second point to note, on the Christological connection. In Genesis 5, traces the genealogy of Adam through Seth. This promise that God made to Adam-Eve, the protoevangelium, the first promise of messiah, will continue through this genealogy. That is the reason, you see the emphasis on creation at the beginning of this chapter. And this genealogy hints that the promise of God to Adam will continue through this line, not through the line of Cain. Who is the ultimate fulfillment of this line? It is Jesus Christ. Compare this genealogy in Gen 5 to last genealogy mentioned in the NT. We find it in Luke 3:23-38. Luke traces his genealogy backwards from Jesus to Adam. In fact, we can read all the 10 names mentioned in Genesis 5 in the final verses of Luke 3.
These connections justify our Christological reading of this text.
THE STRUCTURE OF GENESIS 5
Now let us quickly look at the passage: Gene 5:3-32. This is a highly structured passage. It follows a specific formula
When “A” had lived “X” years, he became the father of “B”.
After he became the father of “B”, “A” lived “Y” years and had other sons and daughters.
Altogether, “A” lived a total of “X+Y” years, and then he died.
This pattern repeats through the entire chapter. If you read it earlier, you might have already noticed. However, the formula breaks in three places: v. 3, 24, and 29. These deviations from the established pattern are significant. Let us analyze them closely.
1. GENESIS 5:3 – IN HIS OWN IMAGE AND LIKENESS
When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth
And additional phrase “in his own image and likeness” is inserted here. When we read this phrase, we remember Genesis 1: God created human beings “in his image and likeness”. God blessed all creation but did not make anything in creation in his image and likeness, not even angels. It shows the distinction, the value God placed on humanity. Each one of us is created in his image and likeness. May be we are from north, south, east and west, look different, talk different, we need to remember that each one is created in God’s image and deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.
Also, we know Adam sinned and the image of God in him was marred. However, despite the fall, Adam was able to transfer his image to his children and their children. 5:3 says that he had a son in his own likeness and in his own image. Adam’s son looked like Adam. Ever since Adam, every generation looked like their fathers. There are physical resemblances for sure. But, does image and likeness only refer to the physical resemblance? No. not at all. it also includes the spiritual nature. Adam transferred his nature of fallenness and the spirit of disobedience to every generation.
Then we can raise a question: is recovery possible? The answer is yes, it is through worship. It is through genuine, spirit-filled worship, our image can be repaired and made perfect to the image of God. The point is this: “we become like what we worship.” Psalm 135:15 – 18
15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands.
16 They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see;
17 they have ears, but do not hear, nor is there any breath in their mouths.
18 Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them.
The idol worshipers mirror the image of the idols that they worship. Why is there so much resistance to the gospel in the world? Because the people who hear represent a different image. Even though they hear, they can’t hear it. See but can’t see it. They become just like the idols they worship. But, when we worship Christ, we grow to reflect the image of Christ who is the image of the invisible God (Colossian 1:15). I Cor 15:49 says that “Just as we bore the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven.” Amen!
Without Christ, the image of God within us would continue to degenerate. In Christ, we have the hope of redeeming and perfecting this sinful image that we inherited from Adam. To sum up, Genesis 5:3 reminds us once again to treat one another with dignity and equality, for everyone is created in His image. It also poses a challenge before us: “what do you worship?” do you worship Jesus or do you worship fame, greed? Remember that you will grow to resemble the object of your worship. May God help us to be true worshipers of Christ and that the image of Christ be formed within us for his glory.
2. GENESIS 5:21-24 WALKED WITH GOD
21 When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. 22 After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23 Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. 24 Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.
The second place where the pattern breaks is here. Let’s look at the phrase “walked with God”. What does it mean? It means intimacy. It’s like a father and son walking together; its like a mentor and mentee walking together; its like friends walking together. May be all three are mentioned here. To walk with God, one should place him above all else and please him in their words and actions.
In those days, there were no churches, bible study groups, no motivational devotions, not even bible existed, yet Enoch walked with God for 300 years! Isn’t it amazing? Its amazing. We must remember this at all time. God did not call us merely for ministry activities alone. Think about this, if God’s concern was only service and work, if he only wanted servants, he had millions of angels. They are serving spirits and could do God’s work better than you and I. No, he calls us to be sons and daughters who would walk with him daily. Jesus during his earthly ministry walked with His father, spending time daily in his presence before going to out to minister. If at all, learn the art of walking with God while you are here.
Enoch walked with God for 300 years. But he didn’t go to a monastery. No, it says that he had other sons and daughters. He took care of his work, fulfilled family responsibilities. At the same time, he walked with God. With several children, family and work, he must have had a busy time. Yet he choose to walk with God. Don’t make an excuse for the time with God. Learn the art of walking with God while you are at NLC and then keep up with the discipline rest of your life.
Also, We see a combination of blessings and curse in the chapter. The birth of sons and daughters are God’s blessings. “be fruitful and multiply.” That is God’s blessing. However, no matter how long they lived they all died at the end. Adam died, Seth died, Enosh died, kenan died, Methusalah who came close to living a 1000 years, he died. In fact, “he died” repeats 8 times in this chapter. That is why it is known as the genealogy of death. The reality of death becomes starker, and more tangible. As if death stalks every one of these men and got them. There was no escape. This was the curse. God said to Adam: “dust you are and to dust you shall return.” The curse was very much at work here. But in the midst of all these darkness, we see a glimpse of hope shining through Enoch. When everyone lived and died, Enoch walked with God and lived. Amen! God took him away. He became the prototype for believers who will be taken to be with the Lord if we walk with Him on earth daily.
Finally, the last enemy to overcome is death. 2 Timothy 1:10 tells us that “our savior Christ Jesus has destroyed death and brought life and immortality through the gospel.” This is good news…the relevant message for our world that is stricken with so much death and fear of death.
3. Gen 5:29 – REST IN ALL OUR TOIL
28 When Lamech had lived 182 years, he had a son. 29 He named him Noah and said, “He will comfort us in the labor and painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the LORD has cursed.”
This is the third place the pattern break in this chapter. Look at these phrases: the labor, painful toil, the ground the Lord has cursed, and the longing for rest and comfort. All of this again reminds us of the curse that God placed on humanity in Eden. Gen 3:17 – “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life.” God was saying to man this “because you frustrated me, the ground will frustrate your effort; it will not return you the fruits of your labor.” Every generation toiled and every generation longed for rest and comfort.
Lamach recognized the reality of the fall in his life. He named his son Noah. Noah means “rest” or “comfort”. There is something more here. Its not Noah will bring rest and comfort to all humanity. NO. in fact, this question hangs in the center of the OT. We read it in Job, Psalm and Ecclesiastes. There is an expectation who will deliver us? Who will bring us rest and comfort. It is only in Jesus Christ, the longing of all human generations reached its fulfillment. Jesus said in Mat 11:28, “28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ” Lamach’s expectation was fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
2 Cor 1:2-5 “3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” Look around our world today. We see the echoes of the same longing. Who will deliver us? Who will give us relief from our sufferings and toil? Who will bring us comfort? Perhaps, the world doesn’t need to be hopeless anymore. It doesn’t need to be in darkness anymore. Through Jesus Christ, light can enter into every darkness and bring comfort and rest to the weary and the broken. May God help us to carry this message of comfort and rest to the world in the power of His spirit.
CONCLUSION
Let’s conclude here. Its difficult to change the physical lineage that comes through our family. We will continue through the same line of Adam. But spiritually, it is possible to change our lineage. Jesus says in John 5:24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.”
We can come out of the genealogy of death to join the genealogy of life through faith in Christ. We can move from Adam to Christ, from death to life. This is the good news that Jesus Christ brought to us. This is the good news we are called to live out. And this is the good news we are called to preach. Let us worship him, walk with him and find rest in Him. May God bless us with the meditation of His Word. To God be the glory!
