From Adam to Noah

Genesis From Adam to Noah - Genesis 5:1-32 June 8, 2025 I grew up believing that I was related to two very famous people. The first was Elvis Presley. My Grandmother was obsessed with him. She had pictures and paraphernalia all over the house. If there was a wall, there was Elvis. No exaggeration. Now, for further context, I lived in Germany until I was about seven, so I had no idea who he was. I asked my dad one day who he was, and he told me that he was my uncle. It didn't take long for me to learn who he really was. So, for many years, as a running joke, he was "Tio Elvis." The other person - who was much more likely - that I believed I was related to was General George S. Patton. You see, my mother is a Patton, and the story from her grandfather's brother was that General Patton was one of their brothers. So, fast forward many years in one of my failed attempts to return to college, I was assigned to write a paper on someone in my family, so I chose to write about Patton. As I did the research, I quickly learned that there was no way that we were related. It was when I learned that General Patton was born in San Gabriel, CA and my grandfather was born in Ireland many years later, and many years after his birth, they came to the states, I knew there was no way they were related. All I had to do was follow the facts and trace the line. Gratefully, there were available records for me to do so. You see, this is why chapters like Genesis 5 are important. Genesis 5 is the first genealogy in the Bible. A historical record that spans ten generations from Adam to Noah, covering a period of over 1,600 years. I thought about doing a congregational reading of this chapter today, but I'll spare you from that. Follow along as I read Genesis 5: 1 THIS IS THE BOOK OF THE GENERATIONS OF ADAM. WHEN GOD CREATED MAN, HE MADE HIM IN THE LIKENESS OF GOD. 2 MALE AND FEMALE HE CREATED THEM, AND HE BLESSED THEM AND NAMED THEM MAN WHEN THEY WERE CREATED. 3 WHEN ADAM HAD LIVED 130 YEARS, HE FATHERED A SON IN HIS OWN LIKENESS, AFTER HIS IMAGE, AND NAMED HIM SETH. 4 THE DAYS OF ADAM AFTER HE FATHERED SETH WERE 800 YEARS; AND HE HAD OTHER SONS AND DAUGHTERS. 5 THUS ALL THE DAYS THAT ADAM LIVED WERE 930 YEARS, AND HE DIED. 6 WHEN SETH HAD LIVED 105 YEARS, HE FATHERED ENOSH. 7 SETH LIVED AFTER HE FATHERED ENOSH 807 YEARS AND HAD OTHER SONS AND DAUGHTERS. 8 THUS ALL THE DAYS OF SETH WERE 912 YEARS, AND HE DIED. 9 WHEN ENOSH HAD LIVED 90 YEARS, HE FATHERED KENAN. 10 ENOSH LIVED AFTER HE FATHERED KENAN 815 YEARS AND HAD OTHER SONS AND DAUGHTERS. 11 THUS ALL THE DAYS OF ENOSH WERE 905 YEARS, AND HE DIED. 12 WHEN KENAN HAD LIVED 70 YEARS, HE FATHERED MAHALALEL. 13 KENAN LIVED AFTER HE FATHERED MAHALALEL 840 YEARS AND HAD OTHER SONS AND DAUGHTERS. 14 THUS ALL THE DAYS OF KENAN WERE 910 YEARS, AND HE DIED. 15 WHEN MAHALALEL HAD LIVED 65 YEARS, HE FATHERED JARED. 16 MAHALALEL LIVED AFTER HE FATHERED JARED 830 YEARS AND HAD OTHER SONS AND DAUGHTERS. 17 THUS ALL THE DAYS OF MAHALALEL WERE 895 YEARS, AND HE DIED. 18 WHEN JARED HAD LIVED 162 YEARS, HE FATHERED ENOCH. 19 JARED LIVED AFTER HE FATHERED ENOCH 800 YEARS AND HAD OTHER SONS AND DAUGHTERS. 20 THUS ALL THE DAYS OF JARED WERE 962 YEARS, AND HE DIED. 21 WHEN ENOCH HAD LIVED 65 YEARS, HE FATHERED METHUSELAH. 22 ENOCH WALKED WITH GOD AFTER HE FATHERED METHUSELAH 300 YEARS AND HAD OTHER SONS AND DAUGHTERS. 23 THUS ALL THE DAYS OF ENOCH WERE 365 YEARS. 24 ENOCH WALKED WITH GOD, AND HE WAS NOT, FOR GOD TOOK HIM. 25 WHEN METHUSELAH HAD LIVED 187 YEARS, HE FATHERED LAMECH. 26 METHUSELAH LIVED AFTER HE FATHERED LAMECH 782 YEARS AND HAD OTHER SONS AND DAUGHTERS. 27 THUS ALL THE DAYS OF METHUSELAH WERE 969 YEARS, AND HE DIED. 28 WHEN LAMECH HAD LIVED 182 YEARS, HE FATHERED A SON 29 AND CALLED HIS NAME NOAH, SAYING, "OUT OF THE GROUND THAT THE LORD HAS CURSED, THIS ONE SHALL BRING US RELIEF FROM OUR WORK AND FROM THE PAINFUL TOIL OF OUR HANDS." 30 LAMECH LIVED AFTER HE FATHERED NOAH 595 YEARS AND HAD OTHER SONS AND DAUGHTERS. 31 THUS ALL THE DAYS OF LAMECH WERE 777 YEARS, AND HE DIED. 32 AFTER NOAH WAS 500 YEARS OLD, NOAH FATHERED SHEM, HAM, AND JAPHETH. Immediately, we can identify two patterns. The first pattern is how the account is organized. There a bit of a formula for the majority of the ten people named, it goes like this: When A had lived X years, he fathered B. A lived Y years after he fathered B and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of A were Z (= X + Y) years, after which he died. Probably several months ago now, I mentioned that Algebra didn't have a place in the real world. I stand corrected. The next pattern is critical. Let's see if you can identify it. It is a short phrase at the end of nine verses, beginning with verse five. Do you see it? Right. "AND HE DIED" is the phrase. At the end of last year when we studied Matthew, I quoted Warren Wiersbe who made this great observation: When you read the genealogy in Genesis 5, the repeated phrase "and he died" sounds like the tolling of a funeral bell. The Old Testament illustrates the truth that "the wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23). But when you turn to the New Testament, that first genealogy emphasizes birth and not death! The message of the New Testament is that "the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. 6:23). The last observation I want to make about this genealogy is that we see the reason for the placement when we get to verses 28-32, which is the introduction to Noah. In case you didn't know, chapters 6-9 focuses on Noah, his sons, and the impact they had on the history of the world, through the worldwide flood and that which followed. Unfortunately, we won't get to that until sometime next year. Moses, the credited author of Genesis, places the genealogy here to effectively fast forward to the next part of the Genesis story. So, the obvious question must be what can we learn, practically, from this genealogy in Genesis 5? Let's begin first by identifying the main idea or main point of this chapter: Biblical genealogies are inspired words from God and therefore, have a purpose. With that in mind, let's answer our question: WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS GENEALOGY? What's really neat about this genealogy is that there are multiple principles that we can identify. I'm going to share three of them this morning. First ... * People matter to God. o People in the bible are named for a purpose. o Psalm 139 tells of the Lord "knitting" us together in our mother's womb. o Jeremiah 1 tells us that the prophet was called and set apart before he was even born. o In Matthew 10 and Luke 12, Jesus tells us that God counts the hairs of our head. o Psalm 56 says that our tears are kept in a bottle (figuratively, of course) o Finally, in Revelation 5, the prayers of the saints are kept in bowls of incense. o People matter to God. o In fact, we saw just a couple of weeks ago from 2 Peter 3:9 that the Lord is patient, as His will is that all people reach repentance. o So, the Lord ensures here that the lineage from Adam to Noah was preserved - even through the flood. o Because they were named, it may imply that they knew God, and were known by God. o Jesus warns us about knowing God, however. It is not enough for one to simply know about God, one must be known by God. His warning is found in Matthew 7:21-23, where He says: 21 "NOT EVERYONE WHO SAYS TO ME, 'LORD, LORD,' WILL ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, BUT THE ONE WHO DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN. 22 ON THAT DAY MANY WILL SAY TO ME, 'LORD, LORD, DID WE NOT PROPHESY IN YOUR NAME, AND CAST OUT DEMONS IN YOUR NAME, AND DO MANY MIGHTY WORKS IN YOUR NAME?' 23 AND THEN WILL I DECLARE TO THEM, 'I NEVER KNEW YOU; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WORKERS OF LAWLESSNESS.' o Are you known by God? o Next, we learn from Genesis 5: * The reality of death should lead us to Jesus. o We mentioned earlier that phrase "AND HE DIED" o We know that this is reality. o Death is real. o Death is a major theme of this chapter o For us, it should point us to Jesus. o It should cause a sense of urgency. o That's what James talks about in James 4:13-15, in what I call the "sin of presumption." Here's what he says: 13 COME NOW, YOU WHO SAY, "TODAY OR TOMORROW WE WILL GO INTO SUCH AND SUCH A TOWN AND SPEND A YEAR THERE AND TRADE AND MAKE A PROFIT"- 14 YET YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT TOMORROW WILL BRING. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE? FOR YOU ARE A MIST THAT APPEARS FOR A LITTLE TIME AND THEN VANISHES. 15 INSTEAD YOU OUGHT TO SAY, "IF THE LORD WILLS, WE WILL LIVE AND DO THIS OR THAT." o David warns of this as well in Psalm 19:13, when he says: KEEP BACK YOUR SERVANT ALSO FROM PRESUMPTUOUS SINS; LET THEM NOT HAVE DOMINION OVER ME! THEN I SHALL BE BLAMELESS, AND INNOCENT OF GREAT TRANSGRESSION. o Solomon talks about life being vapor. o Paul talks about using our time wisely o This is why we consistently urge you to share your faith. o This is why we should invite people to know the Savior. o In a way, our lives here on earth are preparing us for eternity. You will either spend eternity separated from God, or eternally in His presence. o That's the decision that we all must make. o Finally, and really the way that we prepare for eternity ... * I must choose to walk with God. o We see the example of Enoch in verses 18-24. o Two encouraging observations we can take from this short account of Enoch. * First, it was after the birth of his son, Methuselah (great name for a family pet, by the way), that he walked with God. * Something that came to mind about this fact is that it is never too late to follow God. * Second, He was rewarded for this walk when he was spared death. Only one other person was taken. The other - anyone know? Right. Elijah. o Enoch is later mentioned in the New Testament. He is listed among the faith heroes of Hebrews 11, and he's identified as a prophet in Jude. o Jude specifically mentions a prophecy of judgement, which is a major story arch when we get to Genesis 6-9. o Once again, we see that God rewards the faithful, and the faithful walk with God. o But what does it mean to walk with God? * There are several biblical characteristics of the person who walks with God. I'll give you only a handful of examples of a worthy walk: * A worthy walk is a walk ... o in the Holy Spirit o in humility o in faith o in gentleness o in righteousness * Of course , there are so many other examples in the Scriptures. o G. Campbell Morgan shared this great explanation of walking with God: A little child gave a most exquisite explanation of walking with God. She went home from Sunday School, and the mother said, "Tell me what you learned at school." And she said: "Don't you know, Mother, one day they went for an extra long walk, and they walked on and on, until God said to Enoch, 'You are a long way from home; you had better just come in and stay.' And he went." o You see, when we walk with God, the world around us should have no impact on how we live. o Instead, we're living for our God. We saw earlier, biblical genealogies are inspired words from God and therefore, have a purpose. Admittedly, these are not the most exciting types of passages to read, study, and teach, but there is a lot to learn from them. This morning, for example, we learned that people matter to God, that the reality of death should lead us to Jesus, and that while we're here, we must walk with God. Again, that is only possible through the work of Jesus. He is calling you to do that today. Will you answer that call? Let's pray. 2