Genesis 5

Several considerations for us in Gen 5.

First, is the dignity and apex of all of God’s creatures in my made in his image. The repetition once again demonstrates this in vv1-2. In the same vein is God’s concern for the detail and history of his image bearers seen in the detailed geneologies. Third is the reign of death. Just as God promised spiritual death lead to physical death. This dominates the Chapter, and the future looks bleak if not for two points.

The pledge of ressurection life is found in Enoch. Enoch is the first man to escape Sheol, that great eater of death, where all men go. Yet enoch was taken by God, without enter Sheol. And this, as you all know points to its defeat in Jesus Christ. Jesus has defeated death, he has the keys of death and hades. No more fear. Yes the Christian must pass through death, but pass through he will as we learned in Ps 23. Pass through into the presence of the Lord.

THe hope the longing of the coming comforter, the one coming who would give rest is signified by Lamech naming his Son Noah. Is it an act of faith in naming him or is it a thought that he was the one. Maybe both. Whatever it is, it harkens back to the promise in Gen 3 of the Skull Crushing Seed. He is coming.

Our situation is not much different in many regards.

People live and die. You see this as you walk through graveyards and cemetary. The reality of death and the curse and the fall is everywhere. And we need to be reminded of that and to remind our kids of that. But the hope of resurrection is certain and fixed because Jesus has risen from the dead. Those who die die in the LORD. And there is no reason to grieve as the world grieves over death. Lastly, we hope for the second coming of our LORD. We anticipate a consumated kingdom. A new heavens and new earth that Jesus will usher in in his good timing. Even so come Lord Jesus.

Father, what an amazing chapter, full of good truths. Of the bad news of the fall into sin and death. But of the good news of Jesus who defeated the works of the devil. Who is coming again to judge the living and the dead. Increase our faith in you, our love for you and one another, and cobnfident hope and expectation of resurrection life at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.