Genesis 5:1-32: “This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. (2) Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man when they were created. (3) When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. (4) The days of Adam after he fathered Seth were 800 years; and he had other sons and daughters. (5) Thus all the days that Adam lived were 930 years, and he died. (6) When Seth had lived 105 years, he fathered Enosh. (7) Seth lived after he fathered Enosh 807 years and had other sons and daughters. (8) Thus all the days of Seth were 912 years, and he died. (9) When Enosh had lived 90 years, he fathered Kenan. (10) Enosh lived after he fathered Kenan 815 years and had other sons and daughters. (11) Thus all the days of Enosh were 905 years, and he died. (12) When Kenan had lived 70 years, he fathered Mahalalel. (13) Kenan lived after he fathered Mahalalel 840 years and had other sons and daughters. (14) Thus all the days of Kenan were 910 years, and he died. (15) When Mahalalel had lived 65 years, he fathered Jared. (16) Mahalalel lived after he fathered Jared 830 years and had other sons and daughters. (17) Thus all the days of Mahalalel were 895 years, and he died. (18) When Jared had lived 162 years he fathered Enoch. (19) Jared lived after he fathered Enoch 800 years and had other sons and daughters. (20) Thus all the days of Jared were 962 years, and he died. (21) When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. (22) Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. (23) Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. (24) Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him. (25) When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he fathered Lamech. (26) Methuselah lived after he fathered Lamech 782 years and had other sons and daughters. (27) Thus all the days of Methuselah were 969 years, and he died. (28) When Lamech had lived 182 years, he fathered a son (29) and called his name Noah, saying, “Out of the ground that the LORD has cursed this one shall bring us relief from our work and from the painful toil of our hands.” (30) Lamech lived after he fathered Noah 595 years and had other sons and daughters. (31) Thus all the days of Lamech were 777 years, and he died. (32) After Noah was 500 years old, Noah fathered Shem, Ham, and Japheth.”
At a glance, chapter five of the book of Genesis might seem unimportant, I mean, the whole chapter consists of the names of the people who lived, had children, and then died at very old ages. But if you look closely, you will find the gospel, and that is what we will be looking at today.
Here is a list of the names that are in the passage above, as well as their meanings:
Do you see it? Do you see the gospel? If not, let me explain it to you (I will use the meanings of the names listed above, and apply them to the gospel in the order of which they are given): We, man, are appointed mortal and sorrowful because of the sin we bear. But the Blessed God came down in the form of a man, teaching us that His death shall bring the despairing (that is us) comfort, and rest.
Now, do you see it? Jesus, who was and still is, fully God, came down to Earth, and through His death on the cross, removed our sin (and many other things) from us. And so gave mortal, sorrowful, despairing, man; comfort and rest. All who came to Jesus find rest and comfort in Him, because we no longer fear the wrath of God, nor do we fear punishment for our sin, because our sin was washed away in the blood of Christ.
Heavenly Father, I thank You, for putting the gospel in every passage of Your word, so that we would not forget it. And Jesus, I thank You, for coming down, and saving sinful, sorrowful man, through Your death, and then, three days later, rising again. And Holy Spirit, I ask You, for showing us the gospel in this passage of scripture that seemed not to have it. In Jesus’ name, amen.
