Genesis 5

Genesis 5

5:5 Some people wonder how men could live so long, as though these time lines had to be metaphoric. Later on, God decides to limit the lifespan of men to 120 years (Genesis 6:3), so we can't use normal context arguments to claim anything other than a literal interpretation of these dates. Instead, let us assume it is true and go from there. In fact, the presence of these lifespans is how creationists determine that the earth is only about 6,000 years old. It also gives us a historical lineage of the first men in existence.

3:23 Enoch being taken away is very strange, especially the way it is just thrown in here in the middle of a genealogy. Some people are tempted to skim these parts and just get back to the prose. I have to believe there is something here, and Enoch's sudden disappearance is certainly something to take notice of. Some think Enoch is one of the witnesses recorded in Revelation, but I'm not totally convinced. Regardless, we are told that Enoch was a righteous man, a champion of faith (Hebrews 11:5-6). This was not simply an early uncommon death, he was taken up in much the same way that Elijah was taken (2 Kings 2:11).

3:27 Methuselah was the longest person to live according to the records in the Bible. Imagine living for 962 years! What would you come to learn? How many skills could you master? Also, we who live less than one measly century debate the meaning of life and how fragile it is. How would you think of those questions had you been pushing 900 and still had a "lifetime" ahead of you?

3:27 A while ago I was doing a study on these dates and found that Methuselah actually died the same year as the flood. It is conceivable then that he died IN the flood. What a way to go, after living so long to drown in catastrophic judgment. And that after your grandson preached to you for 100 years! Astounding.

3:29 This completes the lineage from Adam to Noah. The creationist and evangelist Jay Seegert gave me a translation of these names, which I will provide as follows:

Adam - Man
Seth - Appointed
Enosh – Mortal
Kenan – Sorrow
Mahalalel – The blessed God
Jared – Shall come down
Enoch – Teaching
Methuselah – His death shall bring
Lamech – Despairing
Noah – Comfort and rest

And you thought those names were just weird! It turns out there is hidden revelation in these names, pointing to the coming life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ! Praise God for His wonderful faithfulness! "[Jesus Christ] was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake." (1 Peter 1:20)