An Advent Journey
by Jeff Anderson
FOLLOWING THE SEED FROM EDEN TO BETHLEHEM
Day 4 - An Advent Journey
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FAITH LEGACY
Mahalalel (5), Jared (6), Enoch (7), Methuselah (8) & Lamech (9)
Genesis 5:12-31
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.
25When 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.
After Adam, Seth, Enos, and Cainan (Days 2 & 3) – we have Mahalaleel and Jared. We know very little of these two fathers. Next, we arrive at Enoch.
Enoch was special. He’s one of only two men who never died (the other is Elijah). One day he was on earth, then one day “he was not; for God took him” (Genesis 5:24).
The Bible says he “walked with God.” What an impressive three-word resumé! His God-pleasing reputation places him among the Bible’s “Faith Hall of Fame” members (see Hebrews 11:5).
And if you flip all the way to the end of your Bible to a book called Jude, Enoch is mentioned as “the seventh from Adam” (v14,15).
For all of us seed trackers, what number is Enoch in the line of the Seed? That’s right. #7!
That’s proof that Bible authors like Jude relied on the Genesis genealogies, too.
Next, we have Methuselah. He’s the oldest living man mentioned in the Bible. He lived to be 969 years old.
Methuselah held a stunning position in faith history. His father (Enoch) was a spiritual giant.
On the other side of history, Methuselah was Noah’s grandfather!
Based on Bible records, Methuselah died in the year of the flood. He watched the ark project start with blueprints and likely saw its completion. He might have swung hammers with Noah and sons (Methuselah’s great-grandsons).
It’s hard for us to fathom how these men could have lived to be 800 or 900 years old. But remember, man was created to live forever. And the death process set in slowly.
Methuselah’s son, Lamech must have caught his father and grandfather’s faith, and he must have sensed God’s redemptive plan at work.
When his son, Noah, was born, Lamech prophesied saying, “This one shall bring us relief...” (Gen. 5:29).
What is this “relief”, or “comfort” as other translations say, Lamech is talking about?
We’re about to find out.
Think about the amazing spiritual legacy of Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, and Noah.
What does the spiritual legacy look like for your family - do you come from a line of Christ followers? Or did you come to faith in other ways besides your family?
Whatever your family’s faith story, take time to thank God for bringing you into faith and salvation.
We look forward to your comments and questions below!
If you want to share this Bible reading plan with friends and family, here is the link:
https://bttb.org/An-Advent-Journey
Mahalalel (5), Jared (6), Enoch (7), Methuselah (8) & Lamech (9)
Genesis 5:12-31
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.
25When 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.
After Adam, Seth, Enos, and Cainan (Days 2 & 3) – we have Mahalaleel and Jared. We know very little of these two fathers. Next, we arrive at Enoch.
Enoch was special. He’s one of only two men who never died (the other is Elijah). One day he was on earth, then one day “he was not; for God took him” (Genesis 5:24).
The Bible says he “walked with God.” What an impressive three-word resumé! His God-pleasing reputation places him among the Bible’s “Faith Hall of Fame” members (see Hebrews 11:5).
And if you flip all the way to the end of your Bible to a book called Jude, Enoch is mentioned as “the seventh from Adam” (v14,15).
For all of us seed trackers, what number is Enoch in the line of the Seed? That’s right. #7!
That’s proof that Bible authors like Jude relied on the Genesis genealogies, too.
Next, we have Methuselah. He’s the oldest living man mentioned in the Bible. He lived to be 969 years old.
Methuselah held a stunning position in faith history. His father (Enoch) was a spiritual giant.
On the other side of history, Methuselah was Noah’s grandfather!
Based on Bible records, Methuselah died in the year of the flood. He watched the ark project start with blueprints and likely saw its completion. He might have swung hammers with Noah and sons (Methuselah’s great-grandsons).
It’s hard for us to fathom how these men could have lived to be 800 or 900 years old. But remember, man was created to live forever. And the death process set in slowly.
Methuselah’s son, Lamech must have caught his father and grandfather’s faith, and he must have sensed God’s redemptive plan at work.
When his son, Noah, was born, Lamech prophesied saying, “This one shall bring us relief...” (Gen. 5:29).
What is this “relief”, or “comfort” as other translations say, Lamech is talking about?
We’re about to find out.
Think about the amazing spiritual legacy of Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, and Noah.
What does the spiritual legacy look like for your family - do you come from a line of Christ followers? Or did you come to faith in other ways besides your family?
Whatever your family’s faith story, take time to thank God for bringing you into faith and salvation.
We look forward to your comments and questions below!
If you want to share this Bible reading plan with friends and family, here is the link:
https://bttb.org/An-Advent-Journey
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