Genesis 4:16-26
The Family of Cain
16 Then Cain went out from the presence of the LORD and dwelt in the land of Nod on the east of Eden. 17 And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he built a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son—Enoch. 18 To Enoch was born Irad; and Irad begot Mehujael, and Mehujael begot Methushael, and Methushael begot Lamech.
19 Then Lamech took for himself two wives: the name of one was Adah, and the name of the second was Zillah. 20 And Adah bore Jabal. He was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal. He was the father of all those who play the harp and flute. 22 And as for Zillah, she also bore Tubal-Cain, an instructor of every craftsman in bronze and iron. And the sister of Tubal-Cain was Naamah.
23 Then Lamech said to his wives:
“Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;
Wives of Lamech, listen to my speech!
For I have killed a man for wounding me,
Even a young man for hurting me.
24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold,
Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”
A New Son
25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, “For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed.” 26 And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on the name of the LORD.
The lineage of Cain was doomed but a new hope arose in a son called Seth. Cain’s descendant Lamech through his son Enoch ended up repeating the sin of Cain by murdering a man who only wounded him. He then claimed that God would keep him safe as He did for Cain by vengeance on any who would kill him in retaliation. This protection was not told him by the LORD as we do not find it written here as it was for Cain in Genesis 4:15 when Cain feared for his life. This bold proclamation by Lamech then seems not to be sanctioned by God. This cheap claim of grace would ultimately end in the destruction of the physical lineage of Cain at the flood when the entire population had only evil on their minds (Genesis 6:5, 12-13). Then Adam and Eve had another son called Seth meaning, “appointed compensation” to replace the good son Abel lost to Cain’s jealous wrath. This son Seth then had a son called Enosh who was righteous enough to influence others to begin calling on the name of the LORD God in worship. This line made it through the flood but ultimately mankind would still turn from God again, unable to redeem themselves until God did it for them and us by sending His Son into the world to take our sin’s penalty and offer free eternal hope of life with God again in the end as if the New Jerusalem will be a new Garden of Eden with sin removed and our relationship restored to offer unending true worship once more as we call on His name in praise forevermore! This is the meaning and hope of Christmas where we remember the Son of God become a man like us to deliver us from God’s wrath on our sin and restore us, reconciled, to Him. Worship Him for these things as the greatest present we could ever be given!
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