The Gospel Hidden in Genesis: Discovering Hope in an Unlikely Place

Baby Dedication

Justin and Carolina Brown

Daughter: Maya Isabella Brown

Born: Nov. 27, 2023; 4.98lbs & 18in long

134yo family heir loom dedication gown (1890)

Introduction

There is something true about that adage that says, “The older you get the smarter your parents become.”

I remember distinctly my parents doing things that I took mental note saying, nope, not going to do that. Then there were things that I didn’t understand or agree with (or really, give much thought to). But as life has gone on, I have found myself on more than one occasion going… Where have I heard that before… oh yeah, that’s what my Dad said. Oh that’s why he taught us to work on cars. From first-aid training, to wilderness experiences, to budgeting, to maintenance and upkeep, to being generous, to being kind, and learning leadership principles… my dad has had a lot of influence in my life.

Fireworks (VA): sparkler, first time on my own, careful-hot “don’t touch”… put it between my fingers in the soft webby part

My Dad is a consumate teacher… you sit down with him and he’s always sharing stories and experiences to impart knowledge and experience. One of the things he always has said in business is that it doesn’t matter who gets the credit as long as the task gets done. Hard work will be recognized and rewarded as it continues to show up everyday.

There are things that he has done that only my wife and I know about (well my mom too)… because it wasn’t for anyone else, it was for us. In that he didn’t look for accolades or celebration or any sort of recognition.

My mom instilled faith and my dad instilled a confidence and leadership capabilities that have shaped me today.

Parenting is important. It’s important both moms and dads are present. That’s not always the case, but in so much as it relies on us to step in and fill those gaps, that is a gift of God to affect generational change that affects the Kingdom of Heaven.

While parenting is important… it really does take a community of people to raise kids… you may not have kids, but you are important in the life of the children in your sphere. It’s a great responsibility we take on as we have a family or live in the family of faith.

If you’ve read ahead, you’ll know that this is a chapter of Adam’s genealogy through their third born son Seth. If you have a daily reading Bible plan and skipped this, you wouldn’t be the first.

But like much of God’s word, there is more than what lies upon the surface. We might miss something in the cursory reading of this text.

It might seem like a mere list of names at first glance but actually contains a profound hidden message about God's plan of redemption through Christ.

If you have your Bibles, or on your devices, would you turn to Genesis 5

If you are able and willing, would you stand with me as I read God’s word this morning.

This is the word of the Lord. Let us pray. Amen. Please be seated.

Genealogies

This is the first genealogy that we find in the Bible. It’s technically the second if we count the creation of the man and woman.

But we have a list of names here as to who begets who.

We start with Adam and then we end with Noah and his sons. You can tell where we are going in the story.

There is has been tragedy after tragedy.

The creation of all things (good)

The eating of the forbidden fruit where humanity wanted to take God’s place (tragic)

This is a lot of what sin comes down too, God I know better than you. I want what I want.

The murder of Abel by Cain (tragic)

The murdering of others by Lamech (tragic)

Lamech taking multiple wives signifying a continual decline of the family

Adam and Eve have another child Seth (good)

Then we have the names that are listed in Genesis chapter 5.

Genealogies are interesting. You see where you came from. It’s often how nobility or royalty is determined. Who were your parents?

I think we’ve seen enough fairy tales but also enough of real life that lineage isn’t always an indicator of outcomes.

But it’s worth recognizing on this day (Father’s Day) that:

The Importance of Godly Fathers: There is a significant role fathers play in passing down faith and values to their children. Genesis 5 is an example of Adam, Enoch, and Lamech (different than chapter 4), who were fathers in this genealogy. In fathers leading their families in following God and the impact they can have on future generations. When we intentionally sit and tell the stories of what God has done, it sticks with our children. Whether they end of following the Lord or not (for it’s their decision), the moving of God in your life is undeniable and those stories need to be told. At the dinner table, around the campfire, in the car, on roadtrips, pass down why you do what you do and who God is and how he has moved in your life.

The Lineage of Faith: Point out that the genealogy in Genesis 5 is not just a list of names, but a record of the faithfulness of fathers who passed on their faith to their children. Encourage fathers to be intentional about nurturing their children's spiritual growth and leaving a legacy of faith.

God as our Heavenly Father: While discussing the genealogy, take the opportunity to remind the congregation of God's role as our Heavenly Father. Exodus 34:6-7 is our example of who God is. The reality is that sometimes referring to God as father is hard, because we may not have had a good earthly father. The statistics are real about absent fathers and what that does to children. But here’s what we know and we emphasize… God is a good good Father who will not leave nor forget about us.

We shouldn’t gauge him in light of earthly fathers, rather we as Fathers should seek to embody his goodness, wisdom, holiness, love, compassion, holiness, and righteousness… laying our lives down for our families, doing that which we see him doing. Emphasize His love, guidance, and the hope we have through our relationship with Him. Highlight how earthly fathers can strive to reflect God's fatherly attributes.

Overcoming Generational Challenges: Acknowledge that not everyone has had a positive father figure, and some may have experienced pain or absence in their relationship with their earthly father. Encourage them that God can heal and restore, and that they can find hope and security in their Heavenly Father. We who are Fathers, going to be Fathers, have the role of Father… we get to be generational changers when the biological fathers can’t be there. (PLUG TRAUMA INFORMED CARE)

What’s In a Name

One of my Bible College professors said long-ago that the Old Testament is the New Testament concealed (explain)

The New Testament is the Old Testament revealed (explain)

A few weeks ago, this is why I mentioned that the Bible is often the best commentary on the Bible. It is a unified story that leads us to Jesus.

Often times we can approach this list and think, “ok, cool… bunch of names”. We don’t need to dig very far though till we strike spiritual gold.

Adam

Adam’s name means “man”. As the first man, that seems straight forward enough.

Seth

Adam’s son was named Seth, which means “appointed”. Eve said, “For God hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.”[4]

Enosh

Seth’s son was called Enosh, which means “mortal, frail, or miserable”. It is from the root anash, “to be incurable”, used of a wound, grief, woe, sickness, or wickedness.

It was in the days of Enosh that men began to defile the name of the Living God.[5]

Kenan

Enosh’s son was named Kenan, which can mean “sorrow, dirge, or elegy”. (The precise denotation is somewhat elusive; some study aids unfortunately presume that Kenan is synonymous with Cainan.)

Balaam, looking down from the heights of Moab, uses a pun upon the name of the Kenites when he prophesies their destruction.[6]

We have no real idea as to why these names were chosen for their children. Often they may have referred to circumstances at birth, and so on.

Mahalalel

Kenan’s son was Mahalalel, from mahalal which means blessed or praise; and El, the name for God. Thus, Mahalalel means the “Blessed God”. Often Hebrew names include El, the name of God, as Dan-i-el, “God is my Judge”, etc.

Jared

Mahalalel’s son was named Jared, from the verb yaradh, meaning “shall come down”.[7]

Enoch

Jared’s son was named Enoch, which means “teaching, or commencement”. He was the first of four generations of preachers. In fact, the earliest recorded prophecy was by Enoch, which amazingly enough deals with the Second Coming of Christ (although it is quoted in the Book of Jude in the New Testament):

Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, “Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,

To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against.” — Jude 14–15

Methuselah

Enoch was the father of Methuselah, who we have already mentioned. Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah.[8] Apparently, Enoch received the prophecy of the Great Flood, and was told that as long as his son was alive, the judgment of the flood would be withheld. The year that Methuselah died, the flood came.

Enoch, of course, never died: he was translated[9] (or, if you’ll excuse the expression, raptured). That’s how Methuselah can be the oldest man in the Bible, yet he died before his father!

Lamech

Methuselah’s son was named Lamech, a root still evident today in our own English word, “lament or lamentation”. Lamech suggests despairing.

(This name is also linked to the Lamech in Cain’s line who inadvertently killed his son Tubal-Cain in a hunting incident.[10])

Noah

Lamech, of course, is the father of Noah, which is derived from nacham, “to bring relief or comfort”, as Lamech himself explains in Genesis 5:29.

The Composite List

Now let’s put it all together:

Hebrew English

Adam/Man

Seth/Appointed

Enosh/Mortal

Kenan/Sorrow

Mahalalel/The Blessed God

Jared/Shall come down

Enoch/Teaching

Methuselah/His death shall bring

Lamech/The Despairing

Noah/Rest, or comfort.

That’s rather remarkable:

Man (is) appointed mortal sorrow; (but) the Blessed God shall come down teaching (that) His death shall bring (the) despairing rest.

This is the good news. Are you in despair? Are you in need of hope? Put your trust in God himself, Jesus Christ. Give him your life, ask him to have his way in you and allow him to bring the hope that only he can bring; the joy that can come from him alone; that peace that passes all understanding allowing it to guard/watch over/protect your heart and mind.

We confess our sins. We repent from going about it our way. We yield our lives to Him and allow him to be the authority, the King who sits on the throne of our lives. We yield our allegiance to him first and foremost. From that His goodness, grace, kindness, strength extends into the other areas of our lives. Reordering the chaos, bringing beauty from ashes, bringing clarity in the midst of confusion.

Conclusion

Every person's life matters to God, and He has a plan and purpose for each one.

God works through families and generations to carry out His plans and to bless humanity.

Faithfulness to God can have a lasting impact on future generations.

Even in the midst of a fallen world, God provides hope and redemption through Christ.

Studying Scripture closely, even in seemingly mundane passages, can reveal deep truths about God's character and plan.

May we give ourselves wholly and completely to God. Some of us have kids, some of us have grandkids, some of us may have great grand kids, some of us may be incarnating the father role for our nieces and nephews, some maybe raising their siblings… in whatever situation we find ourselves in, may we find ourselves wholly and completely surrendered to the person and work of Jesus Christ.

You want to be a good father, look to the scriptures and see the character of Jesus (John 14:9 “Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” )

If you didn’t have a good father, look to Jesus, follow Him. He will teach you the truth… you’ll know the truth and the truth will set you free. (John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” )

May we take the opportunity that is before us… may we follow Jesus… and may it be said of us, in this generation as it was in Genesis 4:26… “At that time people began to call on the name of the Lord.”