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Culture
Expands Apart From God
Adam and Eve lived 930 years and
had many children who began to multiply upon the earth (Gen.
5:3-5).
“Then Cain went out from the
presence of the LORD, and settled in the land of Nod, east
of Eden. Cain had relations with his wife and she conceived,
and gave birth to Enoch; and he built a city, and called the
name of the city Enoch, after the name of his son.” (Gen.
4:16-17)
Cain married within his own
family! People in the early years of history obviously had to do
this. Evidently, before the flood the genetic structure of man
was still pure. Cain’s family grew and spread out on the earth.
Many willing students of the
Bible have crashed and burned within the minefields of the
Bible’s genealogical names. The names are too long to pronounce
and impossible to understand. But remember that names in the
Bible have meaning. Names reveal the character of the person
named. If we can determine the meaning of some of the names
mentioned, we can begin to piece together the picture of the
early development of culture.
The word “Nod” means “wanderer.”
Cain became a fugitive in the world. He settled in the land of
wandering. Man moved away from God and began to walk in
darkness. This is a picture of the spiritual state of man apart
from God. Man could no longer make a living as a farmer, but he
had to survive somehow. So he began what is now known as
“commerce!” Man decided that “stuff” had value. Then man began
to trade his stuff for other stuff. “Things” took on value!
The cycle of culture began with
the Hebrew name “Enoch,” which means dedication. The name
reveals that man is now dedicated to a life without God. Cain
had gone out from the presence of the Lord. Here was Cain’s new
son and here was a new beginning without God. Cain built
a city and named it after his son. But there is something else
going on here. Notice how John and Jude viewed Cain’s life.
“Not as Cain, who was
of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason
did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his
brother’s were righteous.” (1 Jn. 3:12)
“Woe to them! For they have
gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong
into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of
Korah.” (Jude 11)
The sin-cursed world became
Satan’s domain (Job. 6:1-6: Job. 2:3; 2 Cor. 4:4). He evidently
began, through Cain, to erect an enormous world of culture
designed to appeal to man’s flesh. Man, apart from God, would
seek by power and materialism to find peace and fulfillment (1
Jn 3:12).
“Cain had relations with his
wife and she conceived, and gave birth to Enoch; and he
built a city, and called the name of the city Enoch, after
the name of his son.” (Gen. 4:17)
“Enoch” means beginning or
initiation. Man now begins his life without God.
“Now to Enoch was born Irad, and
Irad became the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael became the
father of Methushael, and Methushael became the father of Lamech”
(Gen. 4:18).
“Irad” means townsman or
sophistication. His name could indicate that culture began to
prosper. The name, “Mehujael” means smitten of God. God breaks
into history, destroying nations and governments and causing
national disasters to let man know that He is still in control.
“Methushael” means seeking or
becoming inquisitive.
“Lamech” becomes a picture of the
human race without God. Because of the power of the Adamic
nature, man’s kingdom will always go to the strongest. The human
race is now taking charge and creating a culture to their
liking. Man is becoming the captain of his own destiny and
charts his own course without the restraints of God.
Lamech exhibited that he was now
in control of his life by taking two wives. God’s written will
is for man to have one wife.
“Lamech took to himself two
wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the
other, Zillah.” (Gen. 4:19)
“Adah” is the Hebrew word for
trinket, or that which catches the eye. The human race begins
to place inordinate emphasis upon the outward human appearance.
Man draws attention to himself. Attractiveness comes to the
forefront.
“Zillah” means seductive or
erotic. One would have to be extremely insensitive not to see
this being played out upon our cultural stage today.
“Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was
the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock” (Gen.
4:20).
“Jabal” may have been the first
cattle baron. Livestock would remind one of commercial
transactions. It does not mean the family cow or the family
sheep. Commercialism is not wrong, but it can become a
substitute for a relationship with God. Materialism obviously
becomes a substitute for a relationship with God. “Follow the
money to find the corruption” may have started right here.
“His brother’s name was
Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and
pipe.” (Gen. 4:21)
Jubal is the original father of
music. Is there anything wrong with music? No! It can and
should shed light upon God. The psalms are hymns that glorify
God. But here, music and the arts become a substitute
for a relationship with God. Music reveals the thinking of a
generation. If you want to characterize a generation of people,
listen to their music. Not only can we follow the money trail
to find out what direction man is going, we can also follow the
music.
“As for Zillah, she also gave
birth to Tubal-cain, the forger of all implements of bronze
and iron; and the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.” (Gen.
4:22)
“Tubal-cain” may carry the idea
of “metal.” This may have marked the beginning of metal
weapons. These weapons would bring man to the edge of
extermination. Culture has given the Adamic sin nature a
tremendous vehicle through which to express itself. Because of
the Adamic nature, the human race left alone without God’s
restraints would exterminate itself. This is why God will
ultimately change the language so that the race will spread out.
“Naamah” may be translated from “Naem,”
- “delightful, or pleasurable.” She could reveal that pleasure
is now becoming a substitute for a relationship with God. We
live in a world of “Naamah” today. “Naamah,” is approaching the
height of the Cainite civilization.
Now we come to pinnacle of that
civilization.
“Lamech said to his wives,
‘Adah and Zillah, Listen to my voice, You wives of Lamech,
Give heed to my speech, For I have killed a man for wounding
me; And a boy for striking me.’” (Gen. 4:23)
This is a poem that characterizes
the essence of man apart from God. A man that is in defiance of
God is also in defiance of man. Ego is in complete control.
“Look at me, I killed a man for wounding me. I killed a boy for
merely hitting me. I am extremely powerful and power is the
stuff of life. If you touch me I'll kill you.”
Man has now created a culture to
his liking. This is culture without God! Man’s ego and power is
in control.
“If Cain is avenged
sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.” (Gen. 3:24)
Lamech realized that God was the
avenger for Cain. He felt that if anyone attacked him, he would
be avenged seventy times seven. In other words, he felt that he
was more powerful than any God! Man is now a fugitive from the
justice of God. Power, materialism, arts, music, pleasure - all
became a substitute for a relationship with God. Cain’s line
reveals all of this!
God’s Preserves a People
Alongside of the Cainite
civilization was a people of God. God, throughout history has
always kept a people for Himself (Rom. 11:4-6).
“Adam had relations with his
wife again; and she gave birth to a son, and named him Seth,
for, she said, ‘God has appointed me another offspring in
place of Abel, for Cain killed him.’” (Gen. 4:25)
Here is a glimpse into God’s
extended grace! “Seth” means appointed one. God appointed this
son to take Abel’s place. This is the beginning of God’s
spiritual line that will continue through the line of Shem and
to Israel and to Christ, the seed of the woman (Gen. 3:15).
“To Seth, to him also a son
was born; and he called his name Enosh. Then men began to
call upon the name of the LORD.” (Gen. 4:26)
“Enosh” may mean “weak, helpless,
and frail.” This is a line that began to call upon God. Enosh
makes known that there is no power within man. Here is a stark
contrast to Lamech! If man has nothing within himself to bring
peace, he must then turn to God. Out of a sense of extreme
weakness comes the desire for grace.
“Religion” says that there is
some good within man and that basic good can be built upon. But
the Bible says that man is born spiritually dead. There is
nothing in man that is pleasing to God, not one thing.
Reformation is not the answer,
religion is not the answer, humanism is not the answer,
entertainment is not the answer, and education is not the
answer. Man has no power within himself to reproduce what he
lost in the garden.
“Then Seth lived eight
hundred and seven years after he became the father of Enosh,
and he had other sons and daughters. So all the days of Seth
were nine hundred and twelve years, and he died. Enosh
lived ninety years, and became the father of Kenan.” (Gen.
5:7-9)
“Kenan” means deplorable. The
works of man are deplorable in God's sight.
“Then Enosh lived eight hundred
and fifteen years after he became the father of Kenan, So all
the days of Enosh were nine hundred and five years, and he died.
Kenan lived seventy years, and became the father of Mahalalel”
(Gen. 5:10-12).
“Mahalalel” means praise of God.
Here is the height of a generation with a heart for God.
“Then Kenan lived eight
hundred and forty years after he became the father of
Mahalalel, and he had other sons and daughters. So all the
days of Kenan were nine hundred and ten years, and he died.
Mahalalel lived sixty-five years, and became the father of
Jared.” (Gen. 5:13-15)
“Jared” means descent. No matter
how dark any generation may become spiritually, God will always
have a remnant, a line of grace. God will never be without a
seed.
“Then Mahalalel lived eight
hundred and thirty years after he became the father of
Jared, and he had other sons and daughters. So all the days
of Mahalalel were eight hundred and ninety-five years, and
he died. Jared lived one hundred and sixty-two years, and
became the father of Enoch.” (Gen. 5:16-18)
This “Enoch,” like the one in
Cain’s genealogical line, means a beginning. But here,
because of the context, it means to begin with God. Enoch began
with God!
“Then Jared lived eight
hundred years after he became the father of Enoch, and he
had other sons and daughters. So all the days of Jared were
nine hundred and sixty-two years, and he died. Enoch lived
sixty-five years, and became the father of Methuselah. Then
Enoch walked with God three hundred years after he became
the father of Methuselah, and he had other sons and
daughters.” (Gen. 5:19-22)
The passage is clear! Enoch’s
walk with God is an expression that reveals fellowship. This
fellowship came as a result of a relationship. The same word is
found in Genesis 17:1, “Walk before me,” which implies direction
and guidance. Hosea 11:10 used the word in this context, “Walk
after me.” Walking after is to live by example and obedience.
Walk does not focus on the variable but on the constant. It
means to live life a certain way.
“So all the days of Enoch
were three hundred and sixty-five years. Enoch walked with
God; and he was not, for God took him.” (Gen. 5:23-24)
What a tremendous picture of the
translation (Rapture) of the church (1 Thess. 4:16-18). God
took Enoch! Enoch was translated into the heavens. Jude had
something to add about Enoch's life.
“Now Enoch, the seventh from
Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, ‘Behold, the
Lord comes with ten thousand of His saints, to execute
judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them
of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an
ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly
sinners have spoken against Him.” (Jude
14)
Cain had walked out of the
presence of the Lord. On the other hand, Enoch walked into the
presence of God.
“By faith Enoch was taken
away so that he did not see death, “and was not found,
because God had taken him for before he was taken he had
this testimony, that he pleased God.” (Heb. 11:5)
“Methuselah lived one hundred
and eighty-seven years, and became the father of Lamech.”
(Gen. 5:25)
“Methuselah” means something like
“it will be sent.” What will be sent? The flood will be sent.
Methuselah must have been the picture of grace before judgment.
“Then Methuselah lived seven
hundred and eighty-two years after he became the father of
Lamech, and he had other sons and daughters.” (Gen. 5:26)
“So all the days of
Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty-nine years, and he
died.” (Gen. 5:27)
Methuselah is the oldest man
(recorded) in the Bible. This is a biblical reason for the old
saying, “Old as Methuselah.”
“Lamech lived one hundred and
eighty-two years, and became the father of a son. Now he called
his name Noah, saying, ‘This one will give us rest from our work
and from the toil of our hands arising from the ground which the
LORD has cursed.’ Then Lamech lived five hundred and ninety-five
years after he became the father of Noah, and he had other sons
and daughters. So all the days of Lamech were seven hundred and
seventy-seven years, and he died. Noah was five hundred years
old, and Noah became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth” (Gen.
5:28-32).
Throughout the ages, Satan has
attempted to thwart the plan of God. He attacked the line of
man in order to prevent the “Seed of the woman” from coming into
the world. He knew from Genesis 3:15 that God was going to send
“One” who would destroy him forever. Satan was relentless in
dedicating himself to keeping this seed from coming.
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Cain killed
Abel (Gen. 4:8; Jn 8:44).
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Abraham's line
was attacked in Egypt and Sarah ended up in Pharaoh’s harem
(Gen. 12:15).
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Pharaoh
attempted to destroy all the male children. Moses was hidden
(Ex. 1:22).
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The children
of Israel faced a roadblock at the Red Sea (Ex. 14:19-26).
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David's line
was attacked (I Chron. 18:1).
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Jehosophat's
son arranged a marriage between Jehoram and Athaliah,
Jezebel's daughter. She attempted to kill all of the sons,
but they saved little Joash. He was hidden. He was the only
male in the line of David (2 Chron. 22:11).
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Haman
attempted to annihilate Esther and all Jews (Esther 7:7).
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Herod
attempted to annihilate all male children at Christ's birth
(Matt. 2:16).
Could Satan so corrupt the
human race so as to prevent the seed of man from coming into the
world? (See “Noah
Found Grace.”)
Sources
New American Standard Bible
Brown, Driver, and Briggs Hebrew
Definitions
Robert B. Thieme, Jr.
Chafer’s Systematic Theology
MacAuthur’s Study Bible
New American Standard Exhaustive
Concordance
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