WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY?

GENESIS 4:16-5:32

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. THE LINE OF CAIN [4:16-24]

1. THE MYSTERY OF CAIN'S WIFE SOLVED [v. 16-18]

Cain was the first child of Adam and Eve recorded in Scripture (Genesis 4:1). His brothers, Abel (Genesis 4:2) and Seth (Genesis 4:25), were part of the first generation of children ever born on this Earth.
Even though only these three males are mentioned by name, Adam and Eve had other children. In Genesis 5:4 a statement sums up the life of Adam and Eve—‘And the days of Adam after he had fathered Seth were eight hundred years. And he fathered sons and daughters.’ This does not say when they were born. Many could have been born in the 130 years (Genesis 5:3) before Seth was born.
During their lives, Adam and Eve had a number of male and female children. The Jewish historian Josephus wrote that, ‘The number of Adam’s children, as says the old tradition, was thirty-three sons and twenty-three daughters.’
The Bible does not tell us how many children were born to Adam and Eve. However, considering their long life spans (Adam lived for 930 years—Genesis 5:5), it would seem reasonable to suggest there were many! Remember, they were commanded to ‘Be fruitful, and multiply’ (Genesis 1:28).
If we now work totally from Scripture, without any personal prejudices or other extra-Biblical ideas, then back at the beginning, when there was only the first generation, brothers would have had to have married sisters or there would be no more generations!
We are not told when Cain married or any of the details of other marriages and children, but we can say for certain that some brothers had to marry their sisters at the beginning of human history. Many Christians cannot answer the question about Cain’s wife because they focus on today’s world (and the problems associated with close relations marrying), and do not understand the clear historical record God has given to us.
They try to interpret Genesis from our present situation, rather than understand the true Biblical history of the world and the changes that have occurred because of sin. Because they are not building their worldview on Scripture, but taking a secular way of thinking to the Bible, they are blinded to the simple answers.
Genesis is the record of the God who was there as history happened. It is the word of One who knows everything, and who is a reliable witness from the past. Thus, when we use Genesis as a basis for understanding history, we can make sense of questions that would otherwise be a mystery. (This information was provided by Answers In Genesis, an excellent source of material relating to Creation and evolution. Please visit their website using the link in the upper left)

2. THE MORALITY OF THE SEVENTH FROM ADAM (VIA CAIN) [v. 19-24]

The first bigamist, a poet, and a braggart-Lamech.

3. THE MENTAL ABILITY OF ANCIENT MAN [v. 20-22]

II. THE LINE OF SETH [4:25-5:32]

1. THE MYSTERY OF SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP SOLVED [4:25-26]

2. THE MATERIAL OF TWO BOOKS [5:1, Mt. 1:1]

This is the first mention of the word "Book" in the Old Testament, the first mention of "book" in the New Testament is Matthew 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Paul contrasts the first Adam (Adam) and the second Adam (Jesus Christ in Romans and Corinthians). The book of the first Adam deals with death, the book of the second Adam deals with life, the first Adam is of the earth-earthy, the second Adam is from Heaven-Heavenly, the first Adam sinned-the second is sinless, the first Adam brought in death, the second Adam conquered death! Oh, what glory.

3. THE MORTALITY OF ADAM'S RACE [5:1-32]

III. THE LINE OF PROPHETS

1. ENOCH PROPHESIED OF CHRIST'S RETURN [5:21-24, Jude 1:14]

And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,

2. LAMECH PROPHESIED OF CHRIST'S RESTORATION [5:28-29]

Dr. Henry Morris wrote: Methuselah's son Lamech, like his grandfather Enoch, was a prophet of God (prophesying at least concerning his own son Noah). These are the only two antedeluvian patriarchs from whom portions of their actual prophecies have been recorded in Scripture...
Lamech (as well as Adam, Abel, and Enoch0 was undoubtedly one of those in Peter's mind when he spoke of "the times of restitution [or 'restoration'] of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began" (Acts 3:21). Noah, as the one who would by his ark preserve life as the cursed earth was being "cleansed" by the waters of the Flood, was only a precursory fulfillment of Lamech's prophecy, of course. The promised Seed was still future, but in Him and His promised coming were true "rest" and "comfort."

3. NOAH PROPHESIED OF CHRIST'S PROVISION [2 Peter 2:5]

And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.