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History to some is boring, to others, interesting. Even our own histories can be the same. Some are keen on discovering who is in their family tree. Maybe there is someone famous in your line! Others couldn’t care less.   

In the Bible, we come to many chronologies. Genesis 5 is one of those occurrences. Is this section of Scripture just boring family history? No, it shouldn’t be. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” Do we believe that this is true? It is hard to come across anyone in our circles who does not believe this is true, but some portray that they practically don’t believe it. Genesis 5 is not a chapter to skip. If we believe that it is Scripture, then we must believe that God intended for the chronology to be there. We must believe that it is profitable for us.  

Having grounded our understanding of chronologies in the Bible, what can we observe from Genesis 5? Pastor Danny brought out four demonstrations from the chapter. First, it demonstrates the true actual line of the offspring of Jesus Christ. Second, it demonstrates the truthfulness of the consequences of sin. Third, it demonstrates the faithfulness of God multiplying humans. Fourth, it demonstrates the normal course of life.   

Genesis 5 differs from Genesis 4. In the genealogy of Cain’s descendants, we find a continuation of unfaithfulness to God. The line of Cain fades into obscurity, we never hear about any specific individuals again. This contrasts with the genealogy of Seth. With Seth, we find generational faithfulness. We find men like Enoch, who walked with God. We find men like Lamech, who named his son Noah because he had hope and he believed in God’s promise.   

What is your family line like? How has your family walked before the Lord? While you cannot give an account for your other family members, you are accountable for yourself. Seek to deepen your relationship with God just as Enoch did and seek to faithfully pass this on to your children.   

Those who walk away from the presence of the Lord become irrelevant to the work that God is doing in His people. Those who are pressing close to the presence of the Lord are used by Him to continue His work, even if they are just passing names in a chronology. God won’t use just anyone; He uses those who, in faith, draw closer to Him. You and I are each responsible to be faithful to God. And we together, as the church, can encourage one another in doing so!