Genesis Chapter 5

Genealogy of Noah

5:1

This opening statement tells us that this is the Genealogy (History) of Adam and follows the line of the Promised Redeemer of mankind. This Redeemer, also known as the Messiah, will be Prophesied throughout the entire Bible. Remember, the Bible is written about our Savior and Lord Jesus, the Christ, which is, the Messiah. We are looking for our Savior and Lord Jesus to return to Earth. When you see “Christ” it is a Title given to the Redeemer, meaning Messiah. Messiah is described as the Seed of the woman, the Promised Seed, Star of Jacob, Lion of Tribe of Judah, Son of David, Prophet, Priest after Melchizedek’s order, King of David’s line, Son of God, Son of Man, Immanuel, Branch, Headstone, Cornerstone, Servant, Most High, Bread of Life, Light of the World, Door, Good Shepherd, Way, Truth, Life, True Vine, etc. You are encouraged to do your own search and add to this list as God opens your mind and heart to consider the powerful meaning behind each Title. Be prepared for God’s Blessings as you act upon this challenge!

5:2-3

We see a very brief summary of the creation of mankind, and the fact that God Blessed us from the very beginning. (3.) We already know that Adam had many sons and daughters; thus this lineage we are being given is the lineage following the Promised Seed of the Savior of mankind. Pay very close attention to the number of years given for Adam’s age and the birth of Seth. If you have a chart listing these individuals, and the age of Adam, Seth, etc., you will begin to see the crucial importance of paying close attention to why God is giving us the name, date of birth and number of years each person lives. If you do not have an Age Chart, begin to construct your own. Remember, God never gives us information in the Bible unless it has some very crucial importance to us.

5:4-5

Now most people would be shocked to learn how long Adam lived. We should be both shocked and amazed at the length of his life. Note that to alleviate any misunderstanding, God gives us the years Adam lived after Seth was born and then God tells us the total number of years he lived, then he died. I firmly believe God did this just so we would not believe those who challenge God’s Word and say: “well, this just means he lived a long time; it is obviously and exaggeration, because we know better.” These doubters are the ones who think they know more than God. How foolish! Whom do we believe, God, or some person? Notice that we are told “he died”. This simple statement is profound, as it reminds us that God’s Word is fulfilled: “If you eat of the fruit, you will die”. Now stop and think for just a moment; how many children, grandchildren, great- grandchildren, etc., could Adam have had? Millions! Yes, remember, Adam was instructed to ‘fill the earth’ with people, so God would have given him the capability of doing just that! Not only that, but think how much Adam could have accomplished in his life. The possibilities seem endless.

5:6-8

Hopefully you have the Age (Genealogy) Chart to reflect back to the date of Seth’s birth, birth of the ‘Seed’ of the Messiah, and the total number of years Seth lived. Notice that each time we are told all the crucial facts, including the fact that Seth had sons and daughters. How many children could a healthy man have, who lives hundreds and hundreds of years?

5:9-11

Again, note that time frame on your chart and the fact that we are told Enosh (whose name means (mortal, or miserable) also lived hundreds of years and had sons and daughters. Why do you think God keeps telling us the exact dates of each birth, lifetime, and that Enosh then died? We, tend to forget things unless they are drilled into our brains. Pay close attention because there are very good reasons for this information to be verified by God’s Word.

5:12-14

Cainan also has only one son that we are given the name of, and for which we are given the lineage. Even though we are told Cainan had sons and daughters, only one son’s name is given, Mahalalel (meaning blessed or praised and El, the name for God). This is so we will not be confused, we will know what son is of the Promised Seed. Can you imagine what each Dad and Mom were hoping? ‘Is our son going to be the Promised Seed to redeem us?’ Also note that all the men lived more than 900 years. Cainan dies at what age?

5:15-21

Mahalalel’s son is Jared, he too had sons and daughters, and lives to what age? This is the first man to live less than 900 years. Then we are told he dies. Notice that Jared is 162 before he has Enoch (meaning commencement, or teaching). He and his wife must have wondered if they were ever going to have the Promised ‘Seed’ child. Notice that Jared lives quite a long life. How long? Now most of us see a name we recognize, Methuselah, the man we recognize as the man who lived to be the oldest man in the Bible.

5:22-24

Suddenly we notice that Enoch did something none of the others did, or were recognized for; Enoch walked with God, after his son Methuselah was born! Then something else is told about Enoch, he was not, for God took him. This means God took him directly into Heaven with Him, without death. Wow! How do we know this is true? Well, the statement “and he died” is NOT given after the number of years of Enoch’s life on Earth is given at 365, thus telling us Enoch did not die; and God’s Word is always True. Enoch evidently chose to Trust God so completely and totally that every aspect of his life was to walk with God so closely, that he did God’s Will for his life. It appears that God simply chose to call him into Eternity with Him. We are told that Enoch was the first person to be ‘translated’ or brought directly into Heaven, without dying. This ‘translation’ appears to be the same as being ‘Raptured’ into Heaven by God. Notice what Jude tells us about Enoch in Jude 14, 15: “Enoch, the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied when he said ‘Behold, the Lord comes with His myriads of holy ones to execute judgment upon all and to convict all the unholy ones of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed, and of all the severe things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.’” How did Jude know this?

5:25

Enoch trusted and believed God and followed God’s Will so closely that somehow God gave Enoch the inspiration to name his son Methuselah, which means “When he dies, judgment comes.” Remember this phrase, as it is a prophecy and a warning.

5:26-27

How many years did Methuselah live? Who nearly lived just as long as he did? Look at your chart to see what happens when Methuselah dies.

5:28-29

Now Lamech, Methuselah’s son, has a son he names Noah. We are told that Lamech gives us a prophecy concerning something about Noah’s destiny. Noah means ‘restful’, or ‘to bring relief, or comfort’. Again, this name, Noah, is one we all will recognize.

5:30-31

How long does Lamech live? What is significant about this number?

5:32

Now we are told how old Noah was when his father died. Look at your chart to see if it is correct. So how old was Noah when he begot Shem, Ham and Japheth?

Proverbs 25:2 “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a thing.” This is an encouragement to us to diligently search for God’s Truth in His Word. Once a Truth is discovered, we should seek to apply it to our own lives.