GENESIS 5 ADAM’S DESCENDANTS. From Adam to Noah
Genealogies remind us that people are important to God as individuals as well as members of families. Genealogies are more than just lists of names to preserve family traditions. In the Bible, these lists confirm the promise of God that the promised “seed of the woman” would come. When that promise was made, Abraham as the father of the Jews wasn’t born, so the first list was a reminder to all of humanity that Jesus Christ would come as the Perfect Man to bear away the sin of the world.
All humans are related, in that we share one blood no matter where we are on the face of the earth. Our common ancestry in the flesh from Adam and Eve takes us across all man-made barriers of prejudice. Humans create walls between themselves for all kinds of reasons. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, provision has been made for every man, woman, and child who will personally claim the sacrifice for sin for themselves, by repenting of their sin and putting faith in Christ to be saved. The lists in scripture remind us that each person is a unique and valuable creation of God. He created each one with the intention of having them share life and fellowship with Him if they choose to. The sin barrier has brought death to all humans because all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. But the door is open to all to enter into this relationship with Him by trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Comfort. Gen.5:29. “This same shall comfort us.” As humanity increased in number, it also increased in wickedness. Those who were godly began to comingle and then marry those who were sinful, causing a breakdown of morality. Once that deterioration begins, it rapidly increases until what God intended people to be, has no resemblance to that which He created us to be. Instead of glorifying God and enjoying fellowship with him, people choose to do evil and follow the downward path of sin.
When Noah was born to Lamech, Lamech lifted his voice in hope and with words of joy said, “This same shall comfort us.” The name “Noah,” and the word “comfort” sound quite similar in the Hebrew language. Noah was the one who would bring comfort to sinful humanity in his preaching of righteousness and in the building of the ark to preserve a remnant of people who knew and trusted God. When the flood was passed, God recognized Noah’s sacrifice on the altar and promised He would not lay a further curse on the ground. Sorrow remains and weariness from labor remains, and the heart of man has not changed – but God gives us hope when we look at our Lord Jesus Christ as His Ark of Safety for us today.
The Consolation When our Lord Jesus Christ came, consolation came to a sin-sick world. Christ is our ark of Safety. He is a place of refuge for every person who will choose to enter into that Ark by faith.
- The bitterness of sin brings misery and grief to every lost soul. The misery of the heart and soul brings distress and anguish because of the wages of sin which is death.
- Consolation does not come from the earth itself or the world system. Neither has anything to offer to meet the need of those who are deliberately blinded by sin. Consolation and comfort must come down from heaven. “You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ; that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be made rich.”
- Consolation comes when our Lord Jesus raises us up from the depths of sin and reveals the Father to us. He demonstrated His love to us when He dealt personally on our behalf with our guilt. He paid the full price of sin by suffering the consequences of sin in our place.
- The consolation and comfort we now have, comes from God alone. His justice has found satisfaction in the saving work of Christ on the cross.
- On this journey of life, a believer finds consolation in times of difficulties by knowing that our Redeemer lives, and our life now is hidden with Christ in God. Affliction and persecutions will come, but faith in our Lord Jesus gives consolation on sorrow and trouble.
- Health may fade and earthly possessions be lost, but our consolation and comfort in our Lord Jesus Christ remain.
- Friends may leave us and foes may challenge and invade us, but our consolation remains untouched.
- Treachery and death may come one right after the other, but Jesus Christ, our Consolation and Comfort, is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
- When we walk with the Lord through the valley of the shadow of death, we fear no evil because our Consolation and Comfort are with us. He is faithful to His own people when they are in peril, in storms, in fearful attacks, and in times of potential despair.
- It is from the well of springing water that He gives, we can hear and experience the words of this hymn personally…
Come, ye disconsolate, where ‘er ye languish, Come to the mercy seat, fervently kneel; Here bring your wounded hearts, Here tell your anguish, Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.
Joy of the desolate, light of the straying Hope of the penitent, fadeless and pure! Here speaks the Comforter, Tenderly saying, “Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot cure.”
Here see the bread of life, see waters flowing Forth from the throne of God, pure from above. Come to the feast of love; Come ever knowing, Earth has no sorrow but heaven can remove.