“A LOT OF NAMES’ – GEN: 5

1. One of the chapters in the Bible that many are tempted to skip is Gen: 5

2. At firs glance Genesis does not appear to contain anything but a bunch of names.

3. Though there are many names in this chapter.

4. Let’s take the time to read all 32 verses.

5. READ GEN; 5.

I. ONE OF THE MOST OBVIOUS STATEMENTS IN THIS CHAPTER IS, “ AND

HE DIED.” IF MY COUNT IS CORRECT, THE ASV USES THIS EXPRESSION

EIGHT TIMES.

A. This expression allows us to make this point.

B. God’s promises are true.

C. God had told Adam and Eve that if they ate of the forbidden fruit, they would die.

D. The Hebrew writer said that men must die, Heb: 9:27.

E. Early in scripture we find that the god of the Bible…

F. Keeps His word.

(1) God said that people would die, and they did.

(2) It is true that these deaths were not always immediate.

(3) Gen: 5:27 says that Methuselah lived 969 years.

(4) This man lasted nearly 10 full centuries.

(5) The Bible offers no record of anyone living longer than Methuselah.

(6) Yet, in spite of a life that spanned nearly a thousand years.

(7) The words, “and he died” are in the text.

G. Unless we are alive at the Lord’s final return,

(1) A similar thing will be said about us.

(2) “And he died.” “And she died.”

(3) Genesis 5 offers abundant proof that when God says something,

(4) It is absolutely dependable.

(5) One of the bookstores in town is Choice Books.

(6) Many of the books from this store are religious.

(7) While I would recommend many of the things in this store,

(8) The owners do offer some books which are quite good.

(9) One little book I bought from them is entitled,

(10) “Promises of the Messiah.”

(11) Hundreds of promises were made about Jesus Christ in the OT.

(12) This little book records both the promises and the fulfillment.

(13) Other authors have put together books with cover only, 1 subject.

(14) “Promises from God.”

(15) Anyone can make promises.

(16) When we think of promises,

(17) We want to know (1) What they are & (2) will they be kept?

H. Genesis 5 is useful because it show us that God (1) makes promises and keeps His word.

I. Related to this point is this thought.

J. God may choose to fulfill His promises on His own timetable.

(1) If we say to someone, “You are going to die”,

(2) We do not expect that person to live 900 more years.

(3) God did not say how long it would take for people to die.

(4) We need to remember that as we deal with God,

(5) His timing for events may be a lot different from ours.

(6) He may have things planned for a time that is earlier than we desire.

(7) His timing may be further in the future than we would like.

(8) God has His own timetable and His reliability is 10

K. If these are two points of application from Gen: 5, is there a 3^rd?

L. Does this chapter tell us anything else that is useful? Yes.

M. Let’s go back to Gen: 4 for a moment.

N. If you are fortunate enough to see Gen: 4 & 5 with out flipping a page.

O. Look over to Gen: 4:18 READ.

P. These people were some of the unrighteous descendents of Cain.

Q. They are omitted, but not much information about them is recorded.

R. In the following verses a little more information is given.

S. But the material is still pretty much bare facts.

T. Compare the limited descriptions in Gen: 4 to the descriptions in Gen: 5.

U. Gen: 5: 18 is a random example of some righteous people – READ.

(1) When the unrighteous are described (4: 16-24), few details are given.

(2) Wicked people are acknowledged, but little else is said.

(3) When is came time to record information about the righteous,

(4) There is a noticeable increase in the amount of information.

(5) This tells me that………………..

V. Not all people receive the same from God.

W.God has different benefits for the saved and the lost.

X. God’s treatment of the saved and the lost differs.

(1) We are frequently told how loving God is.

(2) We hear that God loves everyone.

(3) While both of these statements are Biblical accurate

(4) They are twisted to suggest God will ultimately….

(5) Save just about everyone.

(6) Whoever stands before God is going to come out pretty well.

Y. This is not what Gen: 4 and 5 indicate.

(1) There are some songs that refer to Santa Clause.

(2) It is said that Santa knows who has been naughty and nice.

(3) God is no Santa, but he knows who has been naughty and nice.

(4) Take a moment to consider and compare Gen: 4 & 5 to Mt: 7:23.

(5) At the end of time Jesus will say to the unsaved,

(6) “Depart from me ye cursed.”

(7) From this statement and what I can determine from the rest of the Bible.

(8) God is not going to spend much time with the wicked.

(9) In our culture the wicked may take center stage. (Much attention).

(10) There has been recent news about Florida and the death penalty.

(11) Florida has recently changed its method of execution.

(12) The electric chair is out and lethal injection is in.

(13) The first man to die by lethal injection in Florida…

(14) Was Terry Melvin Sims.

(15) 23 years ago Simms was convicted for killing a sheriff deputy.

(16) It took 23 years to take care of a convicted criminal.

(17) Wile our society may say lot about criminals,

(18) We patiently put up with wrongdoers year after year.

(19) Gen: 4 indicates’ that God dealt with unrighteous in a speedy manner.

(20) God’s attention is not so much on those who oppose Him (Gen: 4).

(21) But on those who are His children.

(22) As a Christian this encourages me.

(23) I live in a society where the criminals are often the ones who get the care/atten.

(24) Gen: 4 & 5 show that with God this doesn’t happen.

(25) He focuses on those who are important.

11. WE HAVE SEEN A FEW LESSONS FROM GEN: 5; IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE IN THIS CHAPTER THAT IS USEFUL TO US/ I MUST SAY “YES”

A. If we have been in the church for very long,

B. We may look across the aisle and think about a person,

C. “There is a fine Christian.”

D. “That person is probably one of the best Christian I have ever met.

E. “I would really like to be more like him or her.”

F. In Gen: 5 we read about Enoch.

G. Enoch “walked with God.”

H. He was so special that God “took him.”

I. Enoch did not depart this life in the normal way.

J. When w teach about Enoch we may be left with the impression,

K. Or we may leave the impression, that he was a spiritual giant.

L. If this is what we believe, or if this is what we have taught,

M. We have misunderstood the text.

N. Look, please, with me at Gen: 5:21 READ.

O. Enoch lived for 65 years and then had a son named Methuselah.

P. Now look at verse 22 – READ.

Q. There is no question that Enoch “walked with God.”

R. The question is, “When did Enoch start walking with God?

S. He walked with God “after Methuselah was born,”

T. If we put verses 21-22 together, Enoch was 65 years old before he walked w/God.

U. This does not mean that Enoch was a horrible person for his firs 65 years.

V. If verses 21-11 imply anything, is it not this:

W. A good man got better and better.

X. After 65 years he was spiritually mature enough to “walk w/God.”

(1) One requirement for an elder is:

(2) “Not a novice.” A man should have a lot of spiritual mat.

(3) It would be great if Christians could be like Oatmeal.

(4) Oatmeal can offer an instant breakfast to us.

(5) Instant spiritual maturity would be a wonderful thing.

(6) Unfortunately Christianity does not work in this way.

(7) If we want to be like a wonderful Christian we know,

(8) There is a growing process.

(9) It might take us 20 years to get to reach the place w/ another.

(10) It might take 50 years; maybe we will die before we can reach that place.

(11) When we find a lack of spiritual maturity in someone,

(12) I would wholeheartedly urge us to be patient.

(13) Just as adult hood is not instantly reached.

(14) So it can take some time for people to reach spiritual maturity.

Y Spiritual maturity is something that all can strive to attain.

Z. This is a goal that is worth setting and seeking.

AA Enoch made it the point where he “walked with God.”

BB This honor was not limited to Enoch.

CC Noah also” walked with God”, GEN: 6:9

DD My understanding of the word “walked” is that it means,

(1) “To obey God: to do God’s will is to submit to God’.

(2) “To be continually mindful of God and His will.”

(3) Though Christianity did not exist in Enoch’s day,

(4) It was like he was trying to live as a faithful Christian before.

(5) If this is the meaning of “walk and it is,

(6) Being under the NT we can “walk with God”…

(7) One method to insure that we are walking with God is.

(8) Continue to mature and grow in the Christian faith.

(9) Verses 23-24 seem to indicate that once.

(10)Enoch started to walk with God he continued.

(11) For 300 years this man walked with God.

(12) Early in the Bible we are told about a man who was faithful till death.

EE When I look at Enoch and his faithfulness,

FF I am forced to think about his departure.

GG God “took him”.

HH This man did not die in an accident.

II His body did not wear out because of old age.

JJ God willfully removed Enoch from the earth.

KK Why did God do this/

LL No specific reason is given in the text.

MM However, an answer based upon Gen: 6:5 has been suggested is this.

NN Those who populated the earth were getting deeper and deeper into unrighteousness

OO By Noah’s time it was necessary to cleanse the earth.

PP Some have suggested that since Enoch “walked with God”.

QQ And the world was more and more interested in walking with the devil,

RR God removed Enoch and took Him to a better place.

SS I cannot prove that this was the reason for Enoch’s removal.

TT I do know that God cares for His people.

CONCLUSION;

1. The book of Genesis shows that God helps those who love Him.

2. He gave another son to Adam and Eve after one of their boys had been murred.

3. He helped people like Abraham, Lot, Noah, Isaac, and Jacob and Enoch.

4. He still helps us.

5. In a chapter filled with names we have practical information.

6. Is the God of heaven working in our life? He is willing & he is able.

7. To have God walk in our life, we must “walk w/Him.