From Pastor Perry

Genesis 5:1–32 (ESV)

Adam’s Descendants to Noah

5 This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. ² Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man when they were created. ³ When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. ⁴ The days of Adam after he fathered Seth were 800 years; and he had other sons and daughters. ⁵ Thus all the days that Adam lived were 930 years, and he died.

⁶ When Seth had lived 105 years, he fathered Enosh. ⁷ Seth lived after he fathered Enosh 807 years and had other sons and daughters. ⁸ Thus all the days of Seth were 912 years, and he died.

⁹ When Enosh had lived 90 years, he fathered Kenan. ¹⁰ Enosh lived after he fathered Kenan 815 years and had other sons and daughters. ¹¹ Thus all the days of Enosh were 905 years, and he died.

¹² When Kenan had lived 70 years, he fathered Mahalalel. ¹³ Kenan lived after he fathered Mahalalel 840 years and had other sons and daughters. ¹⁴ Thus all the days of Kenan were 910 years, and he died.

¹⁵ When Mahalalel had lived 65 years, he fathered Jared. ¹⁶ Mahalalel lived after he fathered Jared 830 years and had other sons and daughters. ¹⁷ Thus all the days of Mahalalel were 895 years, and he died.

¹⁸ When Jared had lived 162 years he fathered Enoch. ¹⁹ Jared lived after he fathered Enoch 800 years and had other sons and daughters. ²⁰ Thus all the days of Jared were 962 years, and he died.

²¹ When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. ²² Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. ²³ Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. ²⁴ Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.

²⁵ When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he fathered Lamech. ²⁶ Methuselah lived after he fathered Lamech 782 years and had other sons and daughters. ²⁷ Thus all the days of Methuselah were 969 years, and he died.

²⁸ When Lamech had lived 182 years, he fathered a son ²⁹ and called his name Noah, saying, “Out of the ground that the Lord has cursed, this one shall bring us relief from our work and from the painful toil of our hands.” ³⁰ Lamech lived after he fathered Noah 595 years and had other sons and daughters. ³¹ Thus all the days of Lamech were 777 years, and he died.

³² After Noah was 500 years old, Noah fathered Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

The genealogical summary advances the story to the next major development—the flood. Genealogies teach an important theological lesson: God perseveres in the fulfillment of His promises. God does not become bored with His plan or discouraged by Satan’s efforts to derail it. Like God’s people before us, we often wander from God’s path. Yet, God works patiently to set the course right again and to draw us back to Himself. For this reason, the genealogies that may seem boring actually proclaim “The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2Pt 3:9).

I pray:  Lord, fulfill Your good purpose for me in Christ, as You have promised. Amen.

Genesis 4:23–26 (ESV)

Cain and Abel (Part 5)

²³ Lamech said to his wives:

       “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;

you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say:

       I have killed a man for wounding me,

a young man for striking me.

²⁴    If Cain’s revenge is sevenfold,

then Lamech’s is seventy-sevenfold.”

²⁵ And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” ²⁶ To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord.

The Lutheran Study Bible summarizes Genesis 4 in the following. Genesis 4 begins with a murder and traces how the shadow of violence lengthens until Lamech perverts God’s intention for marriage by taking two wives and boasting that he is 77 times more violent than his murderous ancestor Cain. But we also learn of the birth of Seth, through whom God’s promise (3:15) will continue. God’s plan is not stopped by murder. God appoints another seed of the woman to receive the promise and to carry the story forward. The promise continues to unfold until it comes at last to the cross. There, Satan tries to derail God’s plan by killing the seed of the woman. Once again, God prevails, not by appointing another, but by raising Jesus from the dead in declaration that the work is finished, creation is redeemed, and death itself—the chief effect of the fall—is put to death.

I pray:  Derail for me, O Lord, the devil’s evil plans. Grant me Your help and salvation in Christ. Amen.

Genesis 4:17–22 (ESV)

Cain and Abel (Part 4)

¹⁷ Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch. ¹⁸ To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. ¹⁹ And Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. ²⁰ Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. ²¹ His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. ²² Zillah also bore Tubal-cain; he was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.

The big question for a lot of people is who did Cain marry?  Is she from other people that God created or is this a sister?  Interesting question, but the Bible gives us the answer in a roundabout way.  The Bible states that all mankind came from Adam and Eve.  There are no “other” people that God created outside of Adam and Eve.  So that would make him marrying his sister, or a cousin.  The Lutheran Study Bible states about his wife: “Apparently from among the other descendants of Adam and Eve to which Cain had previously referred (v 14; cf 12:13, Abram’s marriage to his half-sister, Sarai). Such marriages were likely common in this earliest period of history. The Lord would later prohibit marriages to close kin (Lv 18).”  We must take into account that Adam and Eve lived a long life and that they could have had a ton of kids.  The Bible is probably not giving a full family history of Adam and Eve.

I pray: O Lord, I do not want to live outside your presence.  I want to live a God pleasing life, but I know I fall short.  Forgive me and help me to walk in your ways.  Help me to always cling to the saving faith you gave me.  Amen.

Genesis 4:13–16 (ESV)

Cain and Abel (Part 3)

¹³ Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear. ¹⁴ Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” ¹⁵ Then the Lord said to him, “Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him. ¹⁶ Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

Not only is Cain kicked out of the land, but he is separated from God.  This is why he claims “My punishment is greater than I can bear.”  I could deal with having to move from the area, but being separated from God would be the worst of all punishment.  The Lutheran Study Bible states: Just as Adam was expelled from God’s presence when he was forced out of the Garden of Eden, so Cain interprets his being forced off the land as an expulsion from God’s presence. Separation from God is the most severe aspect of divine judgment.”

I pray: O Lord, please don’t ever hide your face from me.  I don’t want to be separated from you. I repent and want to do better.  Help me to give with a cheerful heart and a right spirit, and to humbly repent of my sins.  You are my Lord and my God.  Amen.

Genesis 4:8–12 (ESV)

Cain and Abel (Part 2)

⁸ Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. ⁹ Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” ¹⁰ And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground. ¹¹ And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. ¹² When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.”

It frustrates me when I watch police shows that show someone doing an illegal act that is captured on video… and they deny it.  That’s not me.  Even if they are wearing a shirt with their name on it.  When they watch the video… they still deny it!  Well… Cain is no different.  God asked him “Where is Abel your brother?”  He makes a big denial of what he has done and what he knows when he responds “I do not know, am I my brother’s keeper?”  God calls him out on it and doesn’t even let Cain respond.  What about you?  Do you find yourself not stepping up and taking responsibility for your sins?  In fact, when we sin, we are denying God and replacing God with ourselves.  We all fall short and are no better than Cain.

I pray: O Lord, forgive me of my sins and help me to take responsibility for my actions.  Help me to stop sinning and to want to do better.  Thank you for your grace and mercy.  Amen.