Timeline

Genesis 5

Genesis chapter 5 is all about the timeline from Adam to Noah.  It starts out with Adam having Seth after 130 years of life.  If you track the birth years of all of the sons they add up to be 1556 years.  Adam lived to be 930 years old.  I know, that is old.  The last verse of chapter 4 reads, “At that time people began to call on the name of the Lord.”  By the time Adam had Seth, the Bible records sons being born to Cain and living in the land of Nod.  We don’t know how long Cain lived, all we know is that he had 7 sons and a daughter and one of the son’s was Lamech, the father of Noah.  The line of Cain must have intermarried to give us this twist.  Even more of a twist is the fact that Adam was still alive when Noah had Shem, Ham and Japheth. Chapter 6 is introducing the wickedness of the world at that time.  Adam and Eve must have had a first hand view of all the wickedness caused by their disobedience.  Shocking I am sure. 

Today reflect on your timeline.  Try to remember your grandparents and great-grandparents.  What were those people like?  We can see that even in the line of Cain, God blessed us with Noah who built the ark.  Who in your background believed and prayed for you?   Your timeline is very important because the mantle of God’s word should be passed down from mom and dad to son and daughter.

Reflect on your history and pray that the Lord would pass the mantle of God’s word to you so you can be the rock for someone in your future.  Remember Adam and Eve were still alive to watch Noah.  We don’t live as long as the Biblical characters back then and that should spur us on to waste no time.  Praise the Lord for the people in your past who prayed specifically for you.  Return those prayers and live out a Christ-like example for the future generations.