JAN 31

Genesis 5:1-32
Memorise Hebrews 9:27
“and he died…and he died…and he died…”

In a way, Genesis 5 is a rather depressing chapter of the Bible. The one line that we see repeated again and again is the phrase “and he died”. In a single chapter, we have the first 1500 years of man’s existence summarised for us, as we trace our family tree from Adam to Noah. If we give this chapter only a cursory reading, it might seem to be just a whole listing of names and numbers that do not mean anything. What we have is just a chronology of each successive patriarch; of how old he was when he had his first son; how long he lived after that, and how old he was when he died. The narrative continues from generation to generation until we arrive at Noah in Genesis 5:32. However, if we were to take a moment to ponder upon the information given by God, we will realise that there are very good reasons why this chapter is included in the Bible in the first place, and that it is actually a very valuable chapter in helping us understand various truths.

We must understand that God, in His wisdom, chose to record these facts for us. God makes no mistake. It was very deliberately done to leave us with a perfect and inspired record that warrants a close study. Through a comparative study of the years and dates, there are a few interesting facts that one can draw out concerning the lives of these men. For example, it is interesting to note that Adam, who died at the age of 930, would have lived to see the birth of Lamech, Noah’s father. Also, we see that when Noah was born, all the patriarchs except Adam, Seth and Enoch would still have been alive. Thus he would have been able to learn of Creation and of God from the grandson of Adam, Enos. Another detail we can observe, is the fact that Methuselah, the oldest man to have lived in recorded history, would have died the year the flood came, thus fulfilling the prophecy given in his name, which means “when he dies, a sending forth” – referring to the event of the flood!

Through this account, we also see the certainty of the curse of the fall. Although people back then had very long lives, nonetheless one by one, all died in fulfilment of God’s Word to Adam in Genesis 2:16-17. This is the sure judgment against sin. Yet amidst all the deaths, we see one who didn’t die! How was that so? We will learn more of that in tomorrow’s reading.

Thought: Is there any way to escape death?

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the hope we have of life after death!