Genesis 5

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Chapter 5 of the book of Genesis sets the stage for who’s who.

Adam and Seth, verses 1-5.

The Patriarchs from Seth to Enoch, verses 6-20.

Enoch, versus 21-24.

Methuselah to Noah, versus 25-32.

Here in chapter 5, we find the first complete listing of the line of Adam to this point in time. From the creation of Adam through Noah and his sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth. This listing brings the lineage of Adam up to the point in time of the flood. Including the destruction of man’s wickedness that God was so displeased with. In addition to this listing, all or part of Adams Lineage is listed 9 times throughout the book of Genesis.

One may wonder why this is important. Simply put, Jesus. This timeline is continued to the time Jesus walked on the earth. Second this listing gives substation to the Hebrews as a people. As you read through the book of Genesis, and time and history pass, the lineage is listed again and again. Later, in the New Testament book of Luke the complete lineage from Jesus back through Adam is listed. There will be much more discussion about this as the book of Genesis is read and studied.

So as the lineage of Adam is listed, we find that the line listed here is from his son Seth. We already learned about Adams first two sons, Cain and Able. We will later learn more about their lines also. Here is the introduction of his son Seth. As we see this is the line that leads to the future birth of our savior Jesus Christ.

Notice how verse 3 in this 5th chapter of Genesis says, “When Adam was 130 years old, he became the father of a son who was just like him—in his very image”. The understanding here is not only may he have been a visible “chip of the old block”, but as Adam had already fallen from the divine nature in which God made him, Adam could only have sons that were mortal just as he was now. He, like us could only pass on his sinful nature to his children.

We also find that not only did Adam live a long life, 930 years, but many men in his lineage lived very long lives too. Eight generations after Adam, Methuselah was born. We read where he lived 969 years and then died, which would have been close the time of the flood. He was the oldest living man ever recorded.

All these men except one, no matter how many years they lived eventually died. That one man was Methuselahs father, Enoch. The word of God tells us in chapter 5 verses 21-24 after the birth of Methuselah that Enoch lived in close fellowship with God for another 300 years. He had other sons and daughters, and he lived another 365 years continuing to walk in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared. Not because he died but because the Lord God took him. God chose to take Enoch to heaven rather than him die.

We aren’t told in the bible specifically why God took Enoch. In later books and chapters, we will read about another of Gods prophets that was also taken to heaven without death. His name was Elijah. Again, we aren’t told specifically why. While there are many logical and reasonable suggestions on this subject by many well-known scholars and teachers, we won’t know the complete answer until we stand before the Lord Himself and ask. If we even care at that point. Even having the answer wouldn’t matter to each individuals walk with the Lord.

So thoughtfully consider what we have read and learned about the lineage of Adam and man. Our mortality and sinful nature that we can’t help but pass along to our children and children’s children. How Adam was the first man becoming a living person.  Consider then what the importance of Jesus is in God’s plan. Him being the only sinless man and as we can read in 1 Corinthians 15:45-49 how Paul wrote that Jesus is the “second the Adam, and the last Adam, that is Christ is a life-giving spirit”. In Genesis we learned that Adam died and as he came from the dust of the earth, he would also return to it. As Paul further wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:49, “Just like we are now like the earthly man, we will someday be like the heavenly man”. That is Jesus.

Paul explained this more in 2 Corinthians 5:8 that through Christ, “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord”. In this way when we leave this earth we will be with Jesus, not in the earth.

So, as we continue reading through this first book of the bible we will certainly learn more about Gods plan for us and how His plan is that we become the heavenly man only through His son Jesus.