Post 11 Genesis 4 Family

Genesis 4:1-5 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain and said I have gotten a man from the Lord. And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

The account goes on to tell how God gave Cain the opportunity to bring an acceptable offering but while talking to Abel, Cain became angry and killed him. The first murder is committed.

It is sad to see how far man fell. God made man from the dust of the ground but already man is displeased with how God wants things done. Cain was apparently already mad at God when he had the conversation with Abel. It appears that Cain was very displeased that the works of his hands were not suitable for a offering for sin and that he was jealous of the blood offering of his brother. Who is man that he should question the way God wants it done? We discovered in a previous lesson that life was in the blood and that a blood sacrifice was necessary for a sin offering.

Cain now departs and lives in Nod, east of Eden and starts a family. He builds a city and called it Enoch after his son. We skip to the fourth generation to Lamech who took two wives. Their children had varied skills: Jabal was a tent dweller and had cattle. Jubal was the father of those who handled the harp and organ. Tubal-cain was instructor in artificers of brass and iron. In verse 23 Lamech confesses to killing.

In verse 25 we go back to the birth of the third son of Adam and Eve. His name is Seth. In verse 26 prayer begins. 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. Enos means mortal.

First Chronicles gives the genology from Seth to Noah and to Abraham and down the line through Jacob (Israel) and David. Then in Matthew the genelogy is picked up at Abraham again and goes to Jesus Christ. So Jesus' heritage was of the kingly line of David. Luke 3:23 again traces the genology but in reverse back to Adam and God. Verse 38 of Luke 3 sums it up Which was the son of Enos which was the son of Seth which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.

There are reasons to establish this foundation now. Prophecy gives details of the coming of Christ. These genelogies show the line of Christ in His earthly family. It establishes His rightful place in the kingly line all the way back to Abraham and to God himself. From an earthly point of view, Jesus would have been properly qualified to be king had Israel chosen Him. If that had happened though, the rest of the world would have been without a Savior. We may not always understand God's ways but they are the best ways. We know from the Bible that Jesus was not conceived of this royal line but rather directly by the power of God. Jesus is looked upon as the second Adam. The first Adam gave in to sin, the second Adam did not. Romans 5:12-21 describes this. I will give a couple of verses here but it would be good to read the surrounding verses. 12 Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. 19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

In review, We have seen how Cain went off to establish a city and a family. No doubt they grew to great numbers. Their activities indicate that their nature was that which brought on the flood in Noah's day. (Lamech's confession of murder.) Then comes Seth. His family is described in the next chapter. We will see that these people had a different nature as indicated by Enoch's life and that of Noah. There is indication that the two families had contact as evidenced by one of Seth's decendants being named Lamech( and one named Enoch) (as Cain's descendants were) the father of Noah.

We will see in coming lessons the demonstration of God's mighty power. We will also see the teaching of the blood sacrifice for sin. While it was expected that a mighty king would come to rule with power over Israel, God choose to shed grace to the hearts of wicked man. Although, He could have won with a hand of might, He choose to win with love. The fulfillment that Christ is to sit on the throne of David will still happen but until then the door of grace is open to all people.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto Salvation to every one that believeth, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.