The Lineage of Seth

"And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: for God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the Lord." (Genesis 4:25-26)

Cain is a murderer. Abel is his victim. And then sometime after Abel's murder, Eve gives birth to another son named Seth. It is from this lineage that King David is born. It is through this lineage that Jesus is given His legal birthright through his stepfather Joseph as well as His biological birthright through His mother Mary.

Please note, however, that there were most likely many sons and daughters born to Adam and Eve in between Cain and Abel and Seth. Just because attention is drawn to these three so that they are mentioned in the bible does not allow us to presuppose that there were no other children born to them. It is most certain, instead, that there were many children born to them.

All the people mentioned in Seth's lineage, except for Noah, were born before Adam died; which means that all of them would have been privileged to receive a complete and accurate account of how creation came about. And even though these men all seem to be a part of those mentioned who began "to call upon the name of the Lord" (v. 26), thus having no skeletons in the closet; still there are only a few names mentioned in this lineage that are meant for us to pay close attention to. One of those is Noah, whose life we are all somewhat familiar with; we will learn more of Noah beginning in chapter 6 of Genesis.

But another name to take note of is Enoch: for it is said of Enoch that he "walked with God: and he was not; for God took him" (Genesis 5:24). It doesn't say Enoch walked with God and then died. Every person listed in this genealogy is shown to have died (except for Noah who is still alive at the end of this list); but Enoch just "was not; for God took him," meaning that God translated him to heaven without dying. To understand why that happened perhaps we should explore what it means to "walk with God."

The bible tells us in Amos 3:3 that two cannot walk together unless they agree. The first thing then that is necessary in order to walk with God is to agree with God. That means you have accepted everything that God says to be truth, and are walking in agreement with not only God but His words that He speaks. But walking with someone on a regular basis such as Enoch did with God, would also indicate camaraderie or companionship; a relationship.

So the second part of "walking with God" would be an involvement in each others' lives; on the part of man it would indicate a willingness to make God a part of each and every moment of life, and because we are in agreement with Him, to please Him in everything that we do and say. That takes a dying to self so that we please God instead of self; and it takes a dying to the the world as well, so that there are no distractions from your engrossment with your walk with God. That last part is something very difficult for man to do on a consistent basis; but apparently not for Enoch; although we must note that the bible also tells us that this "walk with God" did not commence between Enoch and God until after the birth of Enoch's son, Methuselah (Genesis 5:22), continuing it for the next 300 years.

Anyone who has experienced a close communion with God, even momentarily, knows that nothing in life compares to it. Well, Enoch walked with God; that experience was most likely more important to Enoch than life itself. God obviously knew that before He translated Enoch to heaven to continue that relationship with him there.

Paul says that Enoch "was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:5-6)

Jude calls Enoch a prophet and quotes Enoch when discussing false teachers by saying that "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 these speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him." (Jude 14-15)
 Isn't it amazing that God would so enjoy a man's companionship that He carts the man off to heaven to remain with him forever? And yet, isn't that what He's promised to do one day for ALL of us who "please God?"

In closing this posting, we have to make one more mention of Enoch's son, Methuselah. We know him to be the oldest man who ever lived (or at least that was recorded for us): 969 years to be exact. Hence the once popular saying: "as old as Methuselah!"

So, if you ever happen to hear that saying again, you can quote chapter and verse: Genesis 5:27; and maybe begin a conversation about the Lord in the process!