BiblicalMastery Buddy's bible blog

Lesson 5

What’s in a Name?

Genesis 4:25-6:22

Me-

A subject that once bored me in school, possibly because of the way it was taught, has over the years become one which have bought me hours of enjoyment.  It is the history of mankind.  As I have grown older I have come to appreciate the great men and woman who have lived down through the ages.  Of course some of the most fascinating people are those found in the Bible.

On a more personal note I have enjoyed looking at the genealogy of my own family.  It is interesting to know the names and a little about those who came before me.  Sometimes, like most families, there are those who would be considered the black sheep of the family.  Every family is a mixture of good and bad.

Looking at circumstances surrounding how I got here, I am continually amazed that somehow God reached down and touched my heart and drew me to Him.  Left to my own will I do not know if I would have ever been led to the point that I am in my relationship with Christ.  I thank Him for His grace and mercy in my life.

We-

We all have a story that is made up of an accumulation of bits and pieces of all those who have gone before us.  Their lives have an effect on us because beliefs and behaviors are passed down from generation to generation.  We also have a great heritage of those who have carried on the faith in Christ throughout history.

In the lesson today there is a contrast between the descendents of the godless Cain and those of Seth.  We will see that the faithfulness of his family led to the ultimate salvation and survival of man in Noah.  We will also see the importance of our own faithfulness as we impact the generations that follow us.

 

 

Genesis 4:25

What was to happen now? Cain had been discredited and banished to wander the earth.  Abel was dead.  The seed of man could have easily perished.  However it is important to note that God had not rescinded His command to Adam to multiply and fill the earth or the promise of seed who would defeat satan. 

God in His infinite grace and mercy provided a son to Adam and Eve.  They called him Seth. His name can mean “seed, appointed or “granted.”  In Eve’s mind Seth was given to take the place of Abel. 

1. What could have happen to mankind after the death of Abel?
2. Why did Eve see Seth as a replacement for Abel?
3. Why were Cain and his descendents not taken into consideration?
4.  What does Seth’s name signify?

Genesis 4:26

Although nothing else is known about Enosh except his name, it was an important time in history.  Seth called his son Enosh which represents the mortality and frailty of man.  During the lifetime of Enosh men began to worship and praise God once again.  Abel had set the stage and others were taking up the banner.

1. What is the important fact of the time of Enosh?
2. Why did Seth name his son Enosh?

Genesis 5:1-2

Moses recounts the relationship that man had in the beginning.  God created man and woman in His own likeness.  In turn God not only created them but gave His creation the name of Adam and blessed them.  It is significant that these words were written here.  This was the new Genesis for man.  This would begin a new godly line man culminating in the promised seed Jesus.

1. Why did Moses give a recap of creation?
2. Who was at the center of what God created?
3. What does it mean for man to have been blessed?
4. Why was it important that God gave male and female the name of Adam?

  Genesis 5:3-20

There is a reoccurring theme that runs through these verses.  Although the names change there are at least some factors that remain the same.  In each generation is seen:

• Each person was born with the divine image of God but also the likeness of the fallen nature of Adam.
• Unlike Adam every person since his time have not been created but born to their parents.
• The names of only the first born.
• Each of them had other children both male and female
• Every single person died as a consequence of Adam’s sin.  There is one exception that will be discussed in the next section.

Following is the list of descendants of Adam down to Enoch:

Seth had Enosh. The meaning of their names has already been given.                                    Enosh had Kenan, Kenan is a variation of Cain.                                                                      Kenan had Mahalel. Mahalel is one who praises God.                                                           Mahalel had Jared.Jared may mean servant.                                                                               Jared had Enoch.

1. Why was each son described as having both the image of God and the likeness of Adam?
2. Why were only the names of the firstborn given?
3. What was the result of Adam’s sin in the lives of all of his descendents with a couple of exceptions?
4. How has his sin affected us?

Genesis 5:21-24

Enoch, Jared’s son, stood out among the descendents up to that point.  He was described as one who walked with God.  His life was one of communion and intimacy with God.  In this respect his life was different from all of his predecessors.  The other difference between him and other men was the fact that because of his relationship, he did not experience death as all of the others had.  When Enoch was 365 years old “God took him away.”  It is a picture of what will take place at the time of the Rapture when Christians will be caught up and changed from the mortal to immortal.

1. How does a man like Enoch come to the point of communion and intimacy with God when there is no indication that such faith exists in those around him?
2. Why did God take him away from this world without experiencing death?
3. How is this a picture of what will take place at the Rapture?

Genesis 25-27

When Enoch was 65 years old he had Methuselah.  Imbedded in his name was a prophecy concerning the future of man.  His name means, “When he dies, it will come.”  Enoch possibly saw the coming judgment of man as he witnessed the evil condition of the world because of the influence of Cain’s family.  Methuselah was the longest living man ever.  He died the year of the flood, 1656 years after the creation of man.  Like all those who preceded him, he had other sons and daughters, but the son written about was Lamech.

1. Why is the translation of Methuselah’s name so important?
2. Why did God allow him as well as the others to live so long?
3. What was God waiting for if man was becoming more evil?
4. What does it show about God?

Genesis 5:28-31

The life of Lamech, the son of Methuselah, was a complete contrast to the descendent of Cain who had the same name.  Although both men were powerful as the name denotes, Seth’s descendent was a powerful man for God in a world that had turned its back on Him.  This is reflected in his son’s name.  He called him Noah, which means, “rest, comfort or consolation.”   In the mind of Lamech Noah was seen as the hope of a future peace that could come to the earth.  Little did he know that through Noah a new world would begin.

1. How do we know that Lamech’s lifestyle contrasted with Cain’s descendent?
2. What evidence do we have that he used his power for God?
3. What lessons can we learn from the use of power from these two men?
4. What is wrapped up in the name he gave to Noah?
5. What hope did Lamech have for his son?
6. In naming his son Noah in whom did he put his trust?
7. How would Noah be able to live up to his name?

Genesis 5:32

The timing of God is amazing.  Noah was 500 years old when he had his sons.  This is the first time that not only the first born was mentioned but all three of them.  Shem, Ham and Japheth would each be instrumental in founding the different races and nationalities after the flood.

1. Why did God wait so long to give Noah sons?
2. What is unique in the fact that all three sons were mentioned?
3. What role would they play in the history of mankind after the flood?

Genesis 6:1-4

By the time Noah was an old man the world was a changed place.  As the population increased so had man’s capacity to commit evil also grown.  There is a part of Scripture found here that is very difficult to interpret.  “The identification of the “sons of God” is an age-old biblical-theological challenge that has been answered in various ways. The position taken in this commentary is that the marriages involving the “sons of God” and the “daughters of men” were between the godly and ungodly lines of humanity based on the literary context and resulting judgment on the human world.

The more traditional explanation is that the “sons of God” were fallen angelic beings, based upon such evidence as the later use of this term in Job and Psalms, the apocryphal Book of First Enoch 6-7 which says they were angels, and possible reference to this sin in 1 Peter 3:18-20 and 2 Peter 2:4.

Other explanations have included dynastic rulers who were seeking to rule all humanity and non-elect despots under demonic influence.

Whatever position one takes on the identification of “sons of God,” the truth remains that there was a sin of improper, mixed marriage that resulted in great sin and eventually necessitated God’s worldwide judgment.”

Holman Old Testament Commentary – Holman Old Testament Commentary – Genesis.

When God saw the depth to which His creation had sunk, He put in motion the judgment that would befall all of mankind except for Noah and his family.

God said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.”  The verse defined the number of years that would allow Noah to have the time to build the ark and give man more than enough opportunity to repent. It also meant that God’s patience with man had run out. 

1. What had happened to the world during the years of Noah’s life?
2. What is meant by the term “the sons of God and the daughters of men?”
3. What did God mean by the statement that He would not strive with men?
4. What was important about the number of years before judgment would come?
5. What does it say about God?

Genesis 6:5-7

God saw that not only the actions were evil but everything that man thought about was filled with evil intent.  Because of the total state of depravity to which man had fallen, God was sorry that He had even made them.  They had totally rejected Him at this point in history.  One verse speaks of the hurt that God felt.  It said, “He was grieved in His Heart.”  Although God is spirit and does not have a physical heart the reader could certainly understand the seriousness of the sin of man.

Based on the condition of man, God declared that everything that He created would be destroyed.  This included not only man but every living animal that moved on the earth and bird that flew above the earth.  Here is seen how the sin of man affects all of creation.

1. How did the earth look from God’s perspective?
2. How could man’s actions grieve the heart of God?
3. What other emotions do we see displayed by God in these verses?
4. Why were the animals and birds to suffer the same judgment as man?
5. What hope was left for man at this point?

Genesis 6:8-10

There was one man left who found favor with God.  Noah was that man.  He was viewed by God as one who was:

• Righteous
• Blameless in his time.  He was a man who had a spiritual maturity and was full of integrity.
• One who walked with God.  He had not been influenced by the evil world around him but was steadfast in his relationship with God.

This man had three sons Shem, Ham and Japheth who had been mentioned earlier.

1. Why did Noah find favor with God?
2. What does each of the characteristic of this man mean?
3. Why are his sons mentioned again?
4. What kind of influence did Noah have on them since they were not included with those who were to be destroyed?
5. How does God view you and me? 
6. How do our actions and words influence those around us?
7. What contrast can be drawn between Noah and the rest of mankind?
8. How does a man remain faithful living in an evil society?

Genesis 6:11-12

The writer gives a further description of the condition on earth.  There are two words that he used to indicate what was taking place.  The first was corrupt.  He used it three times.  Man had become rotten to the core.  The second was violence.  It is easy to see that from God’s perspective there had been total rejection of all that He had intended for His creation.  The world had become completely unraveled and lost its moral foundation.

1. Why did the inspired writer use the terms that he did to describe man’s condition?
2. What does each of them mean?
3. What evidence do we have that these same kinds of things are taking place in our own world?
4. What do these verses really say about mankind?

Genesis 6:13-16

Here is the first indication of a beginning dialog with Noah.  He first told him what He was going to do and what was going on in the world.  Noah could certainly understand the latter part of the words from God.  All he had to do was look around and see what was going on.  The former would be a little more difficult to grasp. God was telling Noah that everyone and everything with which he was familiar was going to be destroyed. 

These opening statements were given because Noah would have to have a reason for building a massive ark in the desert where there had never been any rain.  He did not give Noah an option.  In order to survive he would have to build the boat.  Then God gave him instructions on the materials to be used, the design and the precise measurements of this huge boat.  Remember nothing like this had ever been built by man up to that time. 

1. Why did God speak to mortal man about what He was about to do?
2. What might Noah’s immediate reaction have been to such a statement?
3. Why did God tell him what He was planning before He told Noah what he was to do?
4. What options did Noah have?
5. Why did God give such detailed instructions?
6. What would have been your response to all of this information?    

 Genesis 6:17

God once again reiterated what He was about to do.  Noah would have understood by that point that his only hope for survival was to build the boat.  To refuse to listen would lead to his own destruction along with everyone else.

1. Why did God repeat what He was about to do?
2. Why does God sometimes have to tell us something more than once?
3. What were the options for Noah at that point?

Genesis 6:18

This verse has two important parts to it.  First it was  God’s promise of a continuing relationship with Noah by way of a contract or agreement made by Him.  This certainly would speak of the survival of Noah beyond the flood.  It said that mankind would get a third chance. The second is that God was giving life to his sons based on the covenant relationship with Noah.  They would be the fathers of the generations to follow that would once again populate the earth.

1. What was importance of the covenant with Noah?
2. How were his sons included in the God’s agreement with Noah?
3.  What did this agreement mean for you and me?

Genesis 6:19-21

Noah was then given instructions of what was to be taken with him into the ark.  Of the clean animals there were to be seven pair.  Those of the unclean would be saved in two’s.  He was also commanded to carry onto the ark all the necessary food they would need to sustain them.  Notice, Noah was not told when the events would all happen or how long the journey would be. 

1. Why was God so specific about what would go on the ark?
2. What would you have thought given such instructions?
3. How in the world was Noah going to accomplish all that he was commanded to do?
4. What was the instruction concerning the provisions so important?
5. What evidence is given that Noah had a long time to accomplish all he had been given to do?

Genesis 6:22

All that was said about Noah comes to fruition in this verse.  As difficult and overwhelming a task that he had been given, “Noah did according to all that God had commanded him.”  Moses then puts the exclamation point on all that has been said when he wrote of Noah’s faith, “So he did.”

1. What does this verse say about the character of Noah?
2. How difficult would it to have been for Noah to remain faithful for a hundred years?
3. Although not mentioned, how do you think that he would have been viewed by all those watching him build the ark?
4. What would you like for your legacy to be?
5. What example did Noah set for us as you reflect on the statement, “Noah did according to all that God commanded him.”

You-

• As you review the last two lessons give attention to the meaning of each name.
• If you were named according to your attributes how would you be described?
• What legacy would you like to leave behind?
• Look at the characteristics you most admire about the men Moses wrote about and choose those you would emulate.
• Pray that you will remain firm in your faith no matter what is taking place around you.

We- 

For the last two weeks we have studied the descendents of Adam from Cain to Noah.  As we have seen there has never been a greater contrast between Cain’s descendents and those of Seth.  All of those who came from Cain were worldly and evil men.  Lamech was the perfect example of men who have rejected God. 

For us the descendents of Seth exemplify the kinds of men that we should desire to be.  In the time of Enosh men began to call on God.  Enoch had such a close relationship with God that he was translated into heaven and never faced death.  Lamech hoped his son Noah would bring about the restoration of  a godly society.  Noah was called blameless and righteous.  He was also described as man who walked with God. 

We live in a society not much different from the one in which each of those men found themselves.  Hopefully we will have the same spirit as Seth, Enosh, Enoch and Noah who desired to impact the people around them.  The question we have to ask after studying the events of the last three chapters is how close are we to the culmination of history?  Even Jesus stated that the last days will be just like those Noah experienced.

Keep looking up for your salvation is drawing closer.  It is closer than it has ever been.  We need to remain faithful in all that we do.

Additional Notes:

C-After the death of Abel and the exile of Cain, God blessed the couple with a son whom they named Seth meaning seed.  They saw this son as providing a new beginning for mankind. It would be through Seth that the world would be multiplied.  God brought joy out of grief with Seth’s birth. (Gen. 4:25; 5:3)

C-Man began to call on God during the lifetime of Enosh.  Faith reached its pinnacle in Enoch lifetime.  The Bible tells us that “Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. (Gen. 4:26; 5:3)

BL-As a result of man’s fallen nature there is a recurring mournful refrain, “. . .and then he died,”  Only Enoch out of all the men listed in the line of Adam before Noah was born   responded to God’s call with gratitude, as reflected in his upright way of living.                      (Gen. 5:1-31)

E-We are not told the particulars of Enoch’s encounters with God.  What we do know that however he met God that it brought a life-long transformation in his life. Of all the people listed in the genealogy found in Genesis 5 only of him is it said, he walked with God.  His ultimate meeting with God came as the Scripture tells us, “Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.”  Enoch’s faith remained strong in a time when others did not believe.           (Gen. 5:22-24)

GC-A Christian walks with God to find true communion with Him.  Eventually he will take that final walk into eternity and finally be at home. Enoch is our example.  For 365 years he walked with God and we are told that he was no longer to be found on the earth because God took him. (Gen. 5:22, 24; Ps. 116:9)

OC-Previous to Enoch there was one mention of man calling on the name of the Lord.  It is found in Genesis 4:25.  Enoch was born many generations later.  Of him alone was it said, “Then Enoch walked with God.” Because of this special relationship, “God took him.” We can only imagine what Enoch endured as he lived among men of which there was no indication that they shared his faith.  To be the only one of his family to walk with God had to make his life very difficult.  In spite of what others believed he was faithful throughout his life until God took him and he no longer walked among godless men.    (Gen. 5:21-24)

RT-Enoch’s whole identity was in God.  It should not surprise us that God took him home as He did. (Gen. 5:21-24)

M-It is a sad commentary on man that it was not until the Bible informs us that a man walked with God. That man was Enoch.  In a time and among the descendents when no one else acknowledged God, Enoch was that one man who held true. (Gen. 5:22-24)

UE-Once again at some point righteous men like Enoch will not experience death but at the rapture will be taken alive right into heaven. (Gen. 5:24)

RT-One of the characteristics that great leaders seem to posses is humility.  Enoch set a very clear standard for all who followed him.  It is said, (He walked with God and was not more.”  What a powerful statement of faith for all of us to emulate.  He was no more.  He was lost in his God.  Paul said practically the same thing in Gal. 2:20 and Phil. 1:21; 3:7-9.  (Gen. 5:24)

RT-It is a sad commentary on the state of man that God first destroyed all men because their hearts were full of evil intent.  Then He said to Noah after the flood from which only Noah and his family was saved that the intent of man’s heart was fully evil.  He then promised that He would never destroy every living thing by water because of it.  Finally our Lord could not trust Himself to man knowing what they were like. (Gen. 6&8; John 2)

OC-There was Noah, the one man who found favor in the eyes of the Lord.  In the midst of a people who God said He was sorry He had ever made them, Noah remained righteous and blameless.  Of all others God saw only that,  “every intent of the thoughts of the heart was only evil continually.”  For 120 years he and his family remained faithful.  During that time he built and ark and prepared for God’s judgment on His creation.  Noah overcame the influence of the evil society apart from God.  He obeyed God throughout his life, thus preserving himself, his family and the future of mankind.  If it had not been for Noah standing tall in his day mankind would have been completely  destroyed.  (Gen. 6:3, 5-7, 8-10, 13, 14, 18, 22; 7:23)

BL-What lessons can we learn from these verses?  First, when only one man stands up for God in a society, that society degenerates very quickly.  For that reason, Christians need to be like Enoch and Noah–people who are not afraid to say “no” to sin and “yes” to God!  Where would most people say that you and I stand?  And perhaps even more importantly, where would our children say that we stand?  Are we teaching them that God–or something else–is the most important thing in life?  We all leave a legacy behind us–what legacy will you leave to YOUR children? (Gen. 6:5) 

C-In his lifetime Noah experienced more drastic changes than any of us would want to experience.  Noah

1. Went from farmer to shipbuilder                                 
2. When the ark was completed he became a zoo keeper.
3. Along the way he was probably ridiculed by his family and those he thought were his friends.
4. He lost all of his family except his wife, sons and their wives.
5. The world as he knew it was completely changed as a result of the flood.
6. The relationship with one of his sons and his descendents became strained.
7. God began to give him some basic laws dealing with the taking of life and dietary restraints.
8. He received a promise from God that no man prior to him had received.      

(Gen. 6-9)

WM-God saw

1. The wickedness of man
2. “Intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”

Missing was the desire to do right and to focus one’s heart not on evil but on that which is good in the sight of God. (Gen. 6:5)

C-Man went from the position where he called on God to the condition of being wicked in the eyes of God. There was now only one man left on earth who was righteous and blameless and “walked with God.  That man was Noah. (Gen. 6:5-9)

C- The world became a place full of violent men.  God said that “wickedness of man was great on the earth and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was evil continuously.”             (Gen. 6:5, 11, 13)

M-In chapter 6 of Genesis we see the clear contrast between the wicked and the righteous.  God said of the wicked, “Every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” The condition of man made Him sorry He had ever created him.                                                    (Gen. 6:5-6)

GC-Just the opposite of the way men were behaving in the time of Noah, they are not to grieve the heart of God. (Gen. 6:6; Ps. 78:40)

UE-What a sad day it had to be when God looked down on His creation and saw that out of all the people on the face of the earth that only Noah and his family found favor with Him.        (Gen. 6:8)

GC-If we are to find favor in the eyes of God we must be seen as righteous and blameless before Him.  Our daily walk must be a walk with Him. (Gen 6:8-9; 17:1-2)

GC- Righteous and blameless are terms that God uses only for a few men who truly lived a life in obedience to Him. It is not because of whom man is that earns this description, but what God has done for us. We are told that one man could be described in this way.  That man was Noah. (Gen. 6:8-9)

GC-One of the attributes that do not fit into the life of a godly man is one of insolence. God found that this describes the people of the earth in the time of Noah. (Gen. 6:9)

GC-God wants from us:

1. Goodness not wickedness (Prov. 26:23)
2. Proper intentions
3. Good thoughts leading to a pure heart.
4. Not one who is disposed to evil continually. (Gen. 6:5)

RT-If the story of Noah is true then evolution is dead in the water.  The flood would have ended any kind of transitional species.  Noah took, at least two of every kind of animal that God had intended to survive into the ark with him.  Beyond that, man survived the flood as man, not some variation of an animal. (Gen. 6:9-11)

M-Evil men in their godless state will become corrupt and violent are driven only by his own agenda. (Gen. 6:11-12)

WM-Corrupt individuals and those prone to do violent acts cannot see God.                           (Gen. 6:12-13)

UE-Things had become so wicked on earth in the mind of God that He saw the need to use such a catastrophic event as a worldwide flood to destroy all of mankind because of his sinfulness. (Gen. 6:13, 17)

RT-It is interesting to note that in listing the heads of households that only the descendents of Reuben, Levi and Simeon are given to us.  After mentioning Reuben and Simeon, Moses goes on to describe the family of Levi in detail.  He never gets to the fourth son of Leah, Judah. What might have been his reasoning in doing so? (Gen. 6:14-30)

UE-God preserved mankind as Noah and his family found safety inside the ark.                    (Gen. 6:18; 7:1, 23)

GC-A Christian is obedient to God’s commands.  “Thus Noah did according to all that God commanded; so he did.” It takes faith to operate on the unknown.                                           (Gen. 6:22; 7:5; Prov. 19:16)

GC-A Christian is obedient to God’s commands.  “Thus Noah did according to all that God commanded; so he did.” It takes faith to operate on the unknown.                                           (Gen. 6:22; 7:5; Prov. 19:16)

DM-Even though Noah was considered a righteous man, blameless in his time and one who walked with God, he still had to face his on critical moment, his hour of decision. It took a tremendous amount of faith to believe that God was going to bring judgment on the earth in the way described for us in the Scriptures.  It tells us, “Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did” (Gen. 6:22; Heb. 11:7)

M-Noah however heard God and was driven by the desire to please and obey Him.  He understood the will of God and set out to fulfill it despite the obstacles and difficulties that may confront him.  In the case of Noah the task would be difficult for two or three reasons and maybe more. They were:

1. The length of time it took to build the ark
2. The fact there had never been a flood of the magnitude that God was promising would come
3. The possible ridicule from his neighbors as he built the ark in the middle of the desert, especially one of such tremendous size.
4. The thought of how to get all of the animals together to house them in the ark and how they were going to be fed.
5. How long would this incident last.

The key is that Noah believed and the Scripture tells us, “Thus Noah did; according to all God had commanded him, so all that God had commanded him, so he did.” (Gen. 6:22)