Genesis Genealogy Gospel

~ 10 Men Weave The Greatest Story Ever Told ~   

In a previous blog (4-May-2010) we found the message of salvation in the first book of the New Testament by looking at a genealogy of Christ. Christ and the story of redemption are also found in the first book of the Old Testament in a genealogy of Adam!  (Genesis 5)

In Genesis 5 we find a genealogy from the Creation of man until the Flood—at which time only a few on earth were lifted above the devastation and therefore saved from physical death.  In a future day God will rescue His own by lifting them above to meet Jesus Christ in the air—those who have been saved from spiritual death. 

Genesis 5 records ten men in the following order:

Adam ~ As we know Adam, was the father of mankind—as the first man he represents mankind (Genesis 2:7-18). 

Seth ~ Seth was appointed by God to be in the blood line of Christ (Genesis 4:25).

Enosh / Enos ~ The meaning of his name carries the idea of sickness and mortality. 

Cainan / Kenan ~ It has been suggested by a number of commentators that his life was characterized by suffering and sorrow. 

Mahalalel / Mahaleleel ~ His name has the root “el” meaning God, and the overall name has the context of being blessed of God or praising God. 

Jared ~ Jared’s name carries the idea of a ruling or command, coming down, or shall come down. 

Enoch ~ The thing we all remember about Enoch is that he did not die but was taken by God or translated (Genesis 5:24; Hebrews 11:5). Enoch is a picture of the future rapture of true believers. 

Methuselah ~ Every Sunday school student knows Methuselah to be the longest living man in history—yet he too died! All of mankind are mortal—we are all destined to die (Hebrews 9:27).

Lamech ~ His name means poor or made low—and carries the concept of despair. Our word lament comes from the same root as Lamech. 

Noah ~ Noah’s name contains the concept of repose, consolation, relief, rest, comfort, or grace.

We can greatly simplify the combined story of these ten men in a simple paragraph as follows: 

Man [Noah] was appointed [Seth] by God to rule the earth. With man’s mortality [Enosh] came suffering and sorrow [Cainan].  But praise [Mahalalel] be to God, there shall be One who shall come down [Jared] to die [Methuselah] on man’s behalf that some may be translated [Enoch] to be with God forever. Life on earth brings sorrow and lament [Lamech] but there is consolation, comfort, grace, and relief [Noah] in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

The genealogy of Genesis 5 can further be simplified to the following summary of the Gospel message: 

Man was appointed as God’s representatives.  He is mortal and lives with suffering. But praise be to God who came down to earth. His death brought provision for the Christian’s rapture (future), removed Christians from despair (past), and brings comfort (present) to Christians.

contemplate:  The number 10 is often associated in Scripture with the completion of divine order or simply completion. In the lives of 10 men in Genesis 5 we see the Gospel message (John 19:30) and this message is a summary of the Bible. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW