SATURDAY, June 13, 2009 READ: Genesis 5: 1 - 32
FATHERS AND PROPHETS
MEMORIZE: “This is he book of the genealogy of Adam. In the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God." Genesis 5: 1
God, the Father, is the first father. His designation of the second person of the uncreated Godhead as Son, rendered Him Father. It is the divine plan that the fathering of God, the Father, should serve as the model for all human fathering. Fathers are not appendages. Maureen Green that British sociologist to which I referred before, has pointed to the fact that “Our Western society has already advocated and is allowing the father role to decline. Once father departs, there is no one to teach the burdens and benefits of fatherhood to his son. Marriage begets marriage; divorce begets divorce and non-marriage, and fatherlessness begets fatherlessness.” She has gone on to make the point that more and more governments have operated on the assumption that if they are to fortify the next generation, then the most direct and efficient w ay to do it is to help keep fathers out of the picture and help the mothers. Sometimes it seems as if that is the mindset of those who are the human leaders of the Church as well.
Our text, Genesis 5: 1 – 32, which covers a period of over two thousand years of human history, before the flood, and list ten men who served as fathers and preachers of righteousness. The list begins, surprisingly to many, with Adam. Adam sinned against God’s command and brought sin and death to the world. We know that (cf. Genesis 3: 6; Romans 5: 12 – 21). It is evident that he repented and bought into what God was doing and became a proclaimer of the Gospel (cf. Romans 1: 16 – 19). When he was one hundred and thirty years he fathered Seth. After that, he lived for eight hundred years, during which he told the story to everyone he encountered. When Seth was one hundred and five years, he fathered Enosh. He then lived for another eight hundred and seven years and had more sons and daughters. When Enosh was ninety years he fathered Cainan, and then lived for eight hundred and fifteen years, having other sons and daughters. When Cainan was seventy years he fathered Mahalalel and then lived for eight hundred and forty more years and had more sons and daughters. When Mahalalel was sixty-five years old, he fathered Jared, and then lived for eight hundred and forty years more. He had other sons and daughters. When Jared was one hundred and sixty-two years old, he fathered Enoch and lived for eight hundred years more. He also had more sons and daughters. When Enoch was sixty-five years old, he fathered Methuselah and then lived on the earth and walked with God for another three hundred years before God took Him. He had other sons and daughters. Methuselah lived for one hundred and eighty-seven years and fathered Lamech. He lived for seven hundred and eighty-two more years. He had other sons and daughters. Lamech was one hundred and eighty-two years when he fathered Noah. He lived for five hundred and ninety-five years more and had other sons and daughters. Noah lived for five hundred years when he fathered, Shem, Ham and Japheth. He lived for another one hundred years before the flood came upon the earth (v. 11; 2 Peter 2: 5). Each of these men were fathers to their households in their society. Each of their names signified, had a message indicating what God was doing or going to do. God not only want fathers to father their offspring, but to live lives which will impact the society. He wants fathers to live lives which will adorn the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Are you a father? Are you living your life to serve God’s redemptive purposes?
PRAY: LORD, God Almighty, You are the God and Father of our LORD, Jesus Christ. You have made provisions for us to become and live as Your children and to spend eternity in Your house. Thank You, LORD. I bless You in Jesus’ strong name. Amen.