Gen 5:1-32 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth: And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters: And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died. And Seth lived an hundred and five years, and begat Enos: And Seth lived after he begat Enos eight hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years: and he died. And Enos lived ninety years, and begat Cainan: And Enos lived after he begat Cainan eight hundred and fifteen years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enos were nine hundred and five years: and he died. And Cainan lived seventy years, and begat Mahalaleel: And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years: and he died. And Mahalaleel lived sixty and five years, and begat Jared: And Mahalaleel lived after he begat Jared eight hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight hundred ninety and five years: and he died. And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and he begat Enoch: And Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died. 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. And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years, and begat Lamech: And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred eighty and two years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died. And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son: And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed. And Lamech lived after he begat Noah five hundred ninety and five years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years: and he died. And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Note the “generations of Adam,” his family, or his descendants given in Chapter 5. This family tree, as it were, follows the family line of Adam through his son, Seth. How many children were born to Adam and Eve is unknown, with only three being named in Scripture. (See 5:4) An interesting observation made in Chapter 5 is the years of life experienced by Adam’s descendants through Seth.
Adam...............930 years.
Seth..................912 years.
Enos.................905 years.
Cainan..............910 years.
Mahalaleel........895 years.
Jared.................962 years.
Enoch...............365 years, then translated that he should not see death.
Methuselah.......969 years.
Lamech.............777 years.
Noah.................950 years.
By the time we get to Abraham, his total years were 175. The man Moses lived to be 120 and when he wrote the 90th Psalm, he noted, “The days of our years are threescore years and ten (70); and by reason of strength they be four score years (80), yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” (Psalms 90:10) Some have questioned the long years of life attributed to the patriarchs before the flood, but it really should not be a problem. Adam was created to live eternally, but when sin entered, so did death. The Scripture declares, “...sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1:15) As sin continued to pollute the human race, years of life decreased. This was the sad result of disobedience to God in the Garden of Eden that was handed down to all the race of man.
Note the words, “...and he died.” This phrase is found eight times in Chapter 5. How many times it has appeared in the record of humanity since that time only God in heaven knows. “...and he died.” It is something that you have lived with your entire life. Most likely, among your earliest memories, you find stored the image of death touching your family. It may have been a grandparent, a parent, a relative or a neighbor, but you probably have a memory of visiting a funeral home or a “wake” in someone’s house where death has come. And, if you are like me, it has come way too many times throughout the years of your life. We live with this reality every day. As I am writing these words, the coronavirus is still sweeping the world. To date, total cases of the virus have topped 730 thousand globally, and deaths stand at around 35 thousand. In the United States there have been over 120 thousand cases of the virus, and over 2 thousand deaths. Some have estimated that the United States could see upwards of 200 thousand deaths from this disease before this nightmare is over. Of course, during the time this disease has been marching through the world, it is estimated that approximately 150 thousand have died every day, with about 100 thousand of those dying from age-related problems. Death has marched through the human family since the day Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden.
But, beloved, there is good news! Through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, mankind has been offered the glorious opportunity to know life, and to know it more abundantly, and to know it eternally. Jesus said, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) Speaking of His “sheep,” the Lord Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” (John 10:27-29) You can know and experience this yourself if you will call upon Him today in faith. His death on the Cross was for your sins and mine. His resurrection proved that He is the Christ, the Son of God, with power to save to the uttermost all that come to God through Him. You can be saved from sin today, from its power and penalty. A simple prayer that you could pray this very day would be:
“Lord Jesus, I believe that You are the Son of God, and that You died on the Cross for my sins. I believe in Your resurrection. Please come into my heart today, forgive me of my sins and grant me your eternal salvation. I ask this in Your Name. Amen.”
If you prayed this prayer sincerely, you are saved! Jesus has forgiven you of all sins and you now have eternal life. Please let me know and I will get you some literature that will help you in your walk with Christ.
Pastor Steve Smith