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Category: Genesis Page 34 of 41

Making God sad and to suffer and be sorry

The King James Version of Genesis 6:5-6 reads “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.” The New Living Translation explicitly render these verse as God observed and saw the extent of human wickedness, which was consistently and totally evil and so the Lord was sorry to he had made man and his heart was broken.”

The Merriam-Webster’s dictionary gives the two meanings of the word “grieve” . One is to cause someone to be unhappy or sad, and the other is to cause someone to suffer. Sin entered into this world with the disobedience of one man, Adam (Romans 5:12), and like a gangrene infected the whole human race with immense wickedness – so much so, that it caused the Lord to be sad (in his heart), and to suffer and making him sorry that he had even made man.

It is important to note that God ‘saw‘ the rampant wickedness on the earth. He saw not just the actions of man, but their very thoughts; and every imagination of the thoughts of the heart of man was continually evil. The Bible counsels us to guard our hearts for out of the heart comes the springs (the issues) of life (Proverbs 4:23). The Bible also counsels us that out of the heart comes the evil things which defile a man. These include evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness (Mark 7:20-23). The willful disobedience of man which defiles man makes God grieve – so much so that God is sorry for having made man.

Points to ponder:
Jesus said that “As in the days of Noah (Noe) so shall the days before his coming be.” (Matthew 24:37). While this statement of Jesus indicates the suddenness of his coming, it also is reflective of the sinful and sad state that the world will be in before his coming. Unfortunately, it does not take much to look around and see that the world is rife with wickedness and evil; filled with evil thoughts, adulteries (sexual immorality and idolatory), murders (anger), thefts (withholding of tithes, time and talent), covetousness (greed), deceit, lustful desires (such as pornography, sodomy (homosexuality)), envy (jealousy), slander (blasphemy against the Holy Spirit of God by rejecting the Lordship of God’s only son, Jesus), pride (trying to be like gods), and foolishness (denying the existence of God). One or more of these sins may be the poison that defiles our own life. Let each of us, take stock to determine, what’s your poison?  If we don’t guard our hearts with the breastplate of righteousness (found in Jesus Christ alone), and if we don’t put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18), we can be beguiled and ensnared by the wiles of the devil, and sin against God. Our sinfulness and wickedness makes God, not just sad, but also causes him to suffer and be sorry for having knit us together in our mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13). Let us love God with all our heart, so that we don’t grieve the Lord; i.e.,  we don’t make God sad, to suffer or be sorry!

Genesis 6:5-6 (KJV)
5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6 And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

Matthew 24:37-39 (KJV)
37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

What kind of giant are you?

Genesis 6:4 speaks of some earthly giants in the days of Noah. The Bible describes these giants as men who became mighty and renowned. Yet these giants were the result of an unholy union between the sons of God (fallen angels) and the daughters of men and in their time each man did evil continually, except Noah.

Fast forward, many generations, and we come to the time of David, the shepherd boy turned king; the son of Jesse. David faced another giant, one named Goliath in the name of the Lord and was successful in defeating and destroying him (1 Samuel 17). He was not worried of his current circumstances nor the potential future outcome, because he did not focus on himself, but on God. In essence, while Goliath was a physical giant, David was a spiritual giant.

Points to ponder:
David knew that he was owned by God. He belonged to God for God addresses him as “my servant” (2 Samuel 7:5) and was with him (2 Samuel 7:9). He focused (renewed) his mind by keeping his eyes fixed on the Lord (1 Samuel 17:45; Isaiah 26:5; Romans 12:1-2; Hebrews 12:2) that made him one of the mightiest kings of Israel, one of great renown (even more than the then king of Israel – king Saul).
A spiritual giant is one who is mighty because the Almighty God is in and with him or her.
A spiritual giant is one who is renowned for he/she is RENewed in his/her mind and OWNED by God.

Are you a spiritual giant? What kind of giant are you? What kind of giant will you become?

Genesis 6:4 (KJV)
4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

The origin of giants; No more (earthly) giants!

Genesis 6:1-4 gives the account of the origin of giants in the earth. The giants (Nephilim) were the result of an unintended union between the sons of God and the daughters of men. The Bible does not explicitly state the identity of these sons of God. Some have speculatively attempted to explain that these sons of God were the godly human descendants from the line of Seth (Adam’s son) who married the daughters from the ungodly line of Cain. However, this speculation has no Scriptural confirmation, and even falls short scientifically. Scientifically, to produce a giant, we need the giant gene. When God created man, he was made upright (perfect) (Ecclesiastes 7:29) meaning that there was no mutation. So mutation should have come about after the sin of man and while gigantism is a potential result of a mutation, this should be most evident in the ungodly line of Cain and not of Seth who were godly (Genesis 4:26). So the sons of God, could not be the sons of Seth.

The Scripture does speak of the identity of the sons of God. In the Biblical book of Job, the “sons of God” phrase is used to refer to angelic beings  (Job 1:6; Job 2:1; Job 38:7), which makes us understand that the sons of God were fallen angels. These fallen angels saw that the daughters of men were beautiful and married whomever they chose and had children. These children are described as giants or Nephilim; men who were mighty and renowned.

Even though this identity is Scriptural, the identity of the sons of God as the fallen angels has also come under question. First, how could angelic spirit beings have physical and sexual intimacy with human flesh? One explanation to answer this question, is that these fallen angels possessed men who mated with the women they took as wives. However, this is purely conjecture, while not impossible. A more plausible explanation supported by the Scripture is that God created his angels, with the ability to take human form with physical attributes including sexual capabilities. The Bible gives the account of Abraham entertaining angels with a physical meal which they ate (Genesis 18:7), an angel of the Lord wrestling with Jacob physically (Genesis 32:22-32); the people of Sodom and Gomorrah wanted to have vile sexual relations with the angels who had come to their city (Genesis 19). So the most plausible explanation is that these fallen angels manifested themselves in physical human form and had unintended sexual union with women. This is unintended because God intended man and woman to multiply (Genesis 1:28), not angels and women to multiply. Second, the scripture states that angels do not marry (Matthew 22:30), then how could the sons of God be (fallen) angels?. While the Scripture says that angels do not marry, it does speaks of the angels in heaven not the ones who had fallen. Angels like men were created for God’s purposes, but just as man fell, disobeying God and choosing his own way over God’s, so did the angels fall (Revelation 12:4) and can disobey and choose their own ways against God. Finally, one could ask , why is it that we do not have giants today, as in the olden days, for there are certainly fallen angels (demons) that we see manifested in possessions, even today? To answer this question, we need to go to the Biblical book of Jude, which states in Jude 1:6 that God has reserved the fallen angels, who kept not their first estate, but who left their habitation (of the heavens to dwell with women on earth), bound in everlasting chains under darkness, until his judgment. Interestingly, Jude records about these angels, right before he speaks of the evil people of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah who went after strange flesh (Jude 1:7). To these fallen angels, women were strange flesh and yet they willfully chose to not live within the authority that God had given them.

Points to ponder:
Giants came about by the unholy union of the heavenly sons of God with the earthly daughters of men whom they saw were beautiful. With the unholy origin of giants, God says, that his Spirit can no longer put up with man for a long time and restricts the normal lifespan of man to a 120 years, in contrast to what man lived before such union. What are some of the beautiful things of the earth that attract us? What are some of the giants we create by unholy affection and intimacy to such earthly things? Remember, any giant we create is only to be short-lived with a finite lifespan, so let us as children (sons and daughters) of God set the Most High God our habitation (Psalm 92:9) and not be conformed to the patterns of this world (Romans 12:1). In other words, let us seek to have no more earthly giants!

Genesis 6:1-4 (KJV)
1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,
2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
3 And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

Jude 1:6-8 (KJV)
6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

and he died / and he was not

Genesis chapter 5 lists out ten generations from Adam to Noah.
Generation 1: Adam begat Seth when he was 130 years old, and lived for 930 years: and he died. (Genesis 5:3-5)
Generation 2: Seth begat Enos when he was 105 years old, and lived for 912 years: and he died. (Genesis 5:6-8)
Generation 3: Enos begat Cainan when he was 90 years old, and lived for 905 years: and he died. (Genesis 5:9-11)
Generation 4: Cainan begat Mahaleel when he was 70 years old, and lived for 910 years: and he died. (Genesis 5:12-14)
Generation 5: Mahaleel begat Jared when he was 65 years old, and lived for 895 years: and he died. (Genesis 5:15-17)
Generation 6: Jared begat Enoch when he was 162 years old, and lived for 962 years: and he died. (Genesis 5:18-20)
Generation 7: Enoch begat Methuselah when he was 65 years old, and lived for 365 years: and he was not; for God took him. (Genesis 5:21-24)
Generation 8: Methuselah begat Lamech when he was 187 years old, and lived for 969 years: and he died. (Genesis 5:25-27)
Generation 9: Lamech begat Noah when he was 182 years old, and lived for 777 years: and he died. (Genesis 5:28-31)
Generation 10: Noah begat Shem, Ham & Japeth when he was 500 years old, and lived for 950 years: and he died. (Genesis 5:32 to 9:29)

What is interesting to note is that, of all the ten generations from Adam to Noah, it is said of each, that they begat sons and daughters, they lived for a period of time, and they died, except for one. Of Enoch, the seventh from Adam, it is said, that he was begotten, but instead of stating that he died, it is written, that he was not, for God took him. Enoch escapes physical death because of his walk with God.

Points to ponder:
Those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are given the gift of the Holy Spirit of God (Ephesians 1:13) and those who walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh shall have no condemnation (Romans 8:1) i.e., they shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). In other words, of those who believe in Jesus, it shall not be said – and he/she died; but it shall be said – and he/she was not, for God took him/her. At the end of our journey on earth, what shall be said of you and me? Will we stand out as one in ten generations? Will it be said of you and me – “and he/she died” or will it be said of you and me “and he/she was not, for God took him/her?”

Genesis 5:3-31 (KJV)
3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, and after his image; and called his name Seth:
4 And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters:
5 And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.
6 And Seth lived an hundred and five years, and begat Enos:
7 And Seth lived after he begat Enos eight hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters:
8 And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years: and he died.
9 And Enos lived ninety years, and begat Cainan:
10 And Enos lived after he begat Cainan eight hundred and fifteen years, and begat sons and daughters:
11 And all the days of Enos were nine hundred and five years: and he died.
12 And Cainan lived seventy years and begat Mahalaleel:
13 And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters:
14 And all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years: and he died.

15 And Mahalaleel lived sixty and five years, and begat Jared:
16 And Mahalaleel lived after he begat Jared eight hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters:
17 And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight hundred ninety and five years: and he died.
18 And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and he begat Enoch:
19 And Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:
20 And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died.
21 And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:
22 And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:

23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:
24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
25 And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years, and begat Lamech.
26 And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred eighty and two years, and begat sons and daughters:
27 And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died.
28 And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son:
29 And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord hath cursed.
30 And Lamech lived after he begat Noah five hundred ninety and five years, and begat sons and daughters:
31 And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years: and he died.
32 And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Genesis 9:29 (KJV)
29 And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years: and he died.

What is your name?

Genesis 5:1-2 states that on the day that God created man (both male and female) in his likeness, he blessed them and called their name Adam. If you notice the sequence of God’s action, God first blessed the man before he gave them a new name. Blessings preceded naming.

In the Bible, there are only three accounts of the phrase ‘new name’. The first instance is in Isaiah 62:2 which reads “And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name.” Here it is extremely clear that the new name is given by the Lord himself to those whose righteousness is evident before ordinary men and women, who are not part of God’s kingdom (Gentiles) and even before rulers/government (kings). The second instance of the phrase new name is given in Revelation 2:17 which reads “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.” In this instance, the new name is given to the one who overcomes. But what is this new name that is given to the overcoming person whose faith is expressed in action and evident before men? To answer this, we need to go to the third instance in which the phrase “new name” is mentioned and that is in Revelation 3:12 which reads “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.” Again, to the overcomer, is this new name promised and this is Jesus speaking, since it is his revelation (Revelation 1:1). Jesus says that the new name that will be given is the name of God and the name of his habitation (city) and his own new Name – the Name that is above all names (Philippians 2:9).

Points to ponder:
God blessed man before naming him. God named his new creation in the day of his creation. When we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are made a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17). This is the real date of our creation. And upon our new creation, we are blessed by God for Ephesians 1:3 avers that the Lord Jesus Christ has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. Now if we have been born again (made a new creature) and have been blessed because of our belief in the Lord Jesus Christ, we ought to overcome i.e., we ought to let the Lord rule over our lives so that we are holy and blameless in love (Ephesians 1:4). Though, to be holy and blameless is an impossible task by our own human efforts, we can be of good cheer, because when we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are imputed his holiness and blamelessness (righteousness) and we can overcome since he has overcome (John 16:33). So, now the question that begs an answer, is “What is your name?” In other words, is our faith expressed in action for the world to see God’s righteousness imputed on us and are we overcomers, so that Jesus’ own new name can be given to us? What is your name?

Genesis 5:1-2 (KJV)
1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;
2 Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Ephesians 1:3-6 (KJV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

The Godly line shall continue

Genesis chapter 5 verse 1 begins by stating “This is the book of the generations of Adam” and lists out by name, ten generations, from Adam (the man who found grace in the eyes of the Lord, despite his disobedience) to Noah (the man who found grace in the eyes of the Lord – Genesis 6:8).
When the son of Adam, Cain murdered his godly brother Abel, the godly line could no longer continue and God’s direct and first prophecy of Jesus as The Seed of the woman, the coming Savior (Messiah) (Genesis 3:15) was now in jeopardy. Satan, who would have enjoyed his victory of turning the sons of Adam through the line of ungodly Cain,away from God, was in for a surprise, for God appointed forth Seth, another seed (Genesis 4:25; 5:4), begotten in the likeness of Adam (Genesis 5:3) who was made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), in just a little over a century (130 years – Genesis 5:3). Interestingly in these ten generations (Adam, Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahaleel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech and Noah), Cain or his progeny are not mentioned at all, for ungodliness (unrighteousness) can have nothing to do with godliness (righteousness) (2 Corinthians 6:14).

Points to ponder:
From the Godly line of Seth comes The Messiah, Jesus Christ (Luke 3:23-38) and all who believe in him are imputed the righteousness of God (Godliness) (Romans 4:3) and they shall live forever (John 3:16). In other words, the Godly line shall continue (forever) and no amount of Satan’s wiles and schemes can thwart that. The prophet Malachi writes the words of God, that God is seeking a Godly seed (Malachi 2:15) and while Jesus is the firstborn of the Godly seed (Colossians 1:15), when we believe in him, we are given the power to become the sons (seeds) of God (John 1:12). The question then, that demands an answer is: “From us, will that Godly line continue?” In other words, is your life and mine, one from which many others will be brought to the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, as their personal Lord and Savior? The Godly line shall continue, but we must watch and pray, lest we are beguiled and fall into ungodliness. Let it not be said of us that from him the Godly line could not continue, but in and through our lives, let people find grace in the eyes of the Lord.

Genesis 5:1-3 (KJV)
1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;
2 Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.
3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, and after his image; and called his name Seth:

Malachi 2:15 (KJV)
15 And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.

John 1:12-13 (KJV)
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Adam’s grandson Enos and Name calling the Lord

Genesis 4:26 records the the birth of the grandson of Adam. In place of Abel who was slain by his brother Cain, God gave another seed to Adam and Eve and he was called Seth to whom was born a son named Enos. Enos means to call on the name of the Lord and interestingly the Bible records that after the birth of Enos, the men began to call upon the name of the Lord. Enos is mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus Christ (Luke 3:38), the one whom the people began to call upon.

Points to ponder:
Enos means to call on the name of the Lord. What is the name of the Lord? The angel announced and commanded Mary, that she was to call the name of her son, Jesus, for he shall save his people, from their sins (Matthew 1:21). In other words, to be saved, we must call the name of the Lord Jesus (Joel 2:32).  Are you saved i.e., Have you called on the name of the Lord?

Genesis 4:26 (KJV)
26 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.

Another Seed Appointed

After the murder of Abel by his brother Cain, there was no godly seed left to continue the human race. This would mean that the messianic prophecy of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ as the seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15) was questionable, which is exactly what the devil wanted. However, God in his infinite wisdom gave, Adam and Eve, another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew (Genesis 4:25). Eve named him Seth, which means one who is ‘appointed.’

Points to ponder:
Adam was made in the likeness of God, as a son of God (Luke 3:38), but when he sinned, sin and death entered the world and the Godly race of mankind could no longer continue. Another seed had to be appointed. It is Jesus Christ, the last Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45) who is the Appointed seed of the woman (Galatians 3:16), by whom the Godly race of mankind can continue (1 Thessalonians 5:9), because the Bible says that, to all who believe in Jesus and to as many as those who receive Jesus, God gives them the power to be called the children (seeds) of God (John 1:12). Is Jesus, the Appointed seed of God, sown into our life, so that he can germinate and permeate our entire being – all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength? (Mark 12:30)

Genesis 4:25 (KJV)
25 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.

1 Thessalonians 5:9 (KJV)
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

Sin begets sin

Genesis 4:18-24 gives an account of the genealogy of Cain, and focuses primarily on Lamech, one of the descendants of Cain. In this record, it is written that Lamech took two wives, and a brief account of his children and their professions is mentioned. Even though there is no account of any legal restrictions against polygamy at this point in time, I believe, Lamech was in violation of the words of God, which was for him to leave his parents and cleave to his wife, not wives (Genesis 2:24). By taking two wives, one named Adah and the other Zillah, Lamech could not have cleaved to one, contradicting the words of God. Then this account starts to gravitate towards even more sinfulness of Lamech. Lamech tells (boasts to) his two wives, “Listen to me and pay attention – I have murdered a young man who hurt me and if Cain (his ancestral father) was to be avenged seven times, he expects to be as well exponentially (seventy and sevenfold times).” In other words, Lamech shows no sign of remorse or repentance, and he was willfully taking advantage of the grace and mercy of God, that was extended to his forefather Cain.

Points to ponder:
Like Cain, Lamech was under the influence of the devil, who is a liar and a murderer from the very beginning (John 8:44). The devil had told Eve, the motor of Cain, that she shall not surely die (Genesis 3:4) but his lie had brought death into the world, not just death, both physical and spiritual death. The sin of murder that Cain committed was begetting another murder by one of Cain’s progeny. Sin was begetting sin. Let us not fool ourselves into thinking that our willful sins shall have no consequences – those who follow us may succumb and be subject to the same sin, if we don’t repent and turn from our wicked ways. Short term pleasures (of sin) has long term penalties, for unconfessed and unrepented sin begets sin.

Genesis 4:18-24 (KJV)
18 And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech.
19 And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
20 And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.
21 And his brother’s name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.
22 And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.
23 And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt.
24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.

A ‘dedicated’ city – on earth or above?

Genesis 4:17 reads “And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bore Enoch: and he built a city and called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch.

Though the meaning of the name “Enoch” is debated, Enoch is of Hebrew origin and it generally means ‘dedicated’. ‘Experienced’ and ‘trained’ are other meanings attributed to the name Enoch. Now why is it important to understand the meaning of the name ‘Enoch’? This Enoch, was the son of Cain, the unrepenting murderer and liar who was cursed to be a fugitive and wanderer. God had commanded Adam and Eve to multiply and subdue the earth, not just one place (Genesis 1:28), but by building a city, Cain was once again being disobedient to God’s command. He was seeking rest and satisfaction by settling in one place – a place called ‘dedicated’ ironically.

Points to ponder:
Those who willfully disobey God are cursed and they seek solace here below on Earth, but those who are dedicated to God look forward to settling in a city whose builder is God (Hebrews 11:10). Where are you seeking your solace and satisfaction – here on the earth or in the dedicated city whose builder and maker is God?

Genesis 4:17 (KJV)
17 And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.

Hebrews 11:10 (KJV)
10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

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