The Wages of Sin for Adam’s Seed

30Jun09

Today’s Reading:  Genesis 4-7

So the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.” ~ Gen. 4:6-7

Whenever I’m tempted to be dissatisfied, disgruntled, or angry — I can remember these words, “sin lies at the door”. Interesting how God tells us “you should rule over it”. Where sin is concerned, we always have a choice.

 

Then Lamech took for himself two wives: the name of one was Adah, and the name of the second was Zillah. ~ Gen. 4:19

This is the first place I found where someone decided an extra wife was a good idea.

And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, “For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed.” And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on the name of the LORD. ~ Gen. 4:25-26

Eve’s reference to the fact that “God has appointed another seed” indicates that she knew this child was fulfilling a specific purpose. Eve may have actually thought that Seth would be the Messiah! Certainly she understood that God would send a Savior to pay the price for sin, so that true fellowship with God could again be restored. And she was right in the sense that Jesus was born from Seth’s lineage.

Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah. After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. ~ Gen. 5:21-24

Enoch is an enigma to me… what was he like, that God singled him out? What was his life like? All the Bible reveals to us is that he “walked with God”. He must have been something really special, because the inference is that he never died, but rather just walked right into heaven with the Lord. Someday I’ll meet this guy!  Lord, are there any Enochs walking around on Earth today?

Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the LORD said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.”

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God. And Noah begot three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. ~ Gen. 6:5-12

Notice that Noah is described similarly to Enoch, but with more detail: “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord…   Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations.   Noah walked with God.”  

And in contrast, God observed that every intent found in the hearts of the rest of mankind was evil!

“And behold, I Myself am bringing floodwaters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die. But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark—you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you.” ~ Gen. 6:17-18

God’s covenant relationship with man is revealed.

Filed under: Author: Moses, Choice, Death, Evil, Fellowship, Genesis, Grace, Justice, Obedience, Perfect, Sin, Violence   |  Leave a Comment
Tags: Adah, Ark, Cain, Covenant, Enoch, Enosh, Eve, Flood, Ham, Japheth, Jesus, Lamech, Marriage, Messiah, Methuselah, Noah, Seth, Shem, The Name of the LORD, Zillah