JAN 30

Genesis 4:25-5:8
Memorise Genesis 4:25
“Then began men to call upon the name of the Lord”

In the last two verses of Genesis 4, we are introduced to another son of Adam, and that is Seth. Seth means “appointed” or “substitution”. That is how they understood Seth’s role, for he was to be the chosen one from whom the “seed of the woman” would come forth to fulfil the prophecy given in Genesis 3:15. He was to be the replacement for Abel, and it is his line that the rest of the Bible focuses on. Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Solomon and all the other kings of Judah were all from the line that began with Seth and finally culminating in the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus in the naming of Seth, Eve understood by faith that God was faithfully carrying out His covenant.

It is interesting to note that Seth’s birth only came when Adam was 130 years old (Genesis 5:3). Perhaps God deliberately withheld a son from Eve’s womb in order that it may be a test of faith for Adam and Eve, that despite the long wait, they must continue to trust in the promise that God had given them - that there would certainly be the seed through which God’s promised line would continue.

Seth then had a son whom he called Enos. This name means “weak or faint one”, perhaps as a testimony of Seth’s awareness of his spiritual need, that he was but a sinner who needed a saviour. He understood the terrible effects of sin, and acknowledged that mankind was weak and frail, and could do nothing to help himself.

After Enos was born, the Bible tells us that “then began men to call upon the name of the Lord”. This is not to say that man did not worship God before that, for we know that Adam and Eve would have worshipped God and brought offerings to Him, as evident in Genesis 4. What this statement probably refers to then is the public worship of God. By the time Enos was born, there would probably have been a sizable number of people on the earth, comprising other siblings of Seth and their children. Thus what we see highlighted is that the godly messianic line through Seth were the ones who would continue to worship God, whilst the wicked line through Cain would continue to rebel against God.

Thought: Do I identify more with Cain or with Seth?

Prayer: Lord, I thank You for Your perfect plan of redemption.