The Gospel in Seth's Genealogy

All right, thank you guys for the song. We just learned that this week. I think we have a fan back there. I'm not sure, but I think somebody's excited to be here. All right, guys, we are going to be in the book of Genesis, chapter 5, this morning.

We're going to catch verses 25 and 26 from chapter 4, but we're going to be going through the entire chapter 5. If you remember last week, we studied the family of Cain. This week, we're going to study the family line of Seth. So remember, we had two seeds: the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman. We had two sons: Cain and Seth. And ultimately, they represent two different families: the family of Satan and the family of God.

So let's begin Genesis, chapter 4, verse 25 and 26. And the Bible says, "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." And as for Seth, to him also a son was born. And he called him Enosh. And then men began to call on the name of the Lord.

So let's go to the Lord in prayer. Lord, we thank you for your word. We praise you that it is inspired, infallible, inerrant—that it is eternally relevant and authoritative. Lord, we pray that you would give us seeing eyes, hearing ears, and receptive hearts to your word this morning. Lord, I am nothing but a vessel. But the treasure is the gospel. And may the gospel be made plain. Lord, help me to point people to Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name, amen.

So if you remember, the descendants of Cain seemed to prosper, of course, but they were unrighteous. They were the ungodly seed. And unrighteousness seemed to pervade every avenue of human society. But don't you know that God always has a plan? When it seemed like the darkness was winning, here the light would shine. When it seemed like the serpent would finally win, God shows that the promised seed will still come. And so with the birth of Seth, and through Seth's line, we have a new birth, we have a new book, we have a new beginning, and ultimately we have a new hope.

So the Bible tells us that God gave Adam and Eve another son named Seth, and his name means appointed or placed. Now, are you ready for a task this morning? Everybody ready for some homework? In your sermon notes, which are the place in your bulletin, if you will, write down the meanings of these sons of Seth as we go, and it will tie together in the end. So the name Seth means appointed. And right above Seth, you can put the name Adam. Adam, of course, means man. Seth means appointed.

Now, one thing we learn about Seth from this verse is that he takes Abel's place. Of course, Abel had been killed by his brother Cain. He takes Abel's place in the lineage that will ultimately bring forth the Messiah. Now notice what is said of Seth. It says, Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth. For God has appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain killed.

Remember when Eve gave birth to Cain, she says, "I have gotten a man from the Lord." But now when she gives birth to Seth, she says, "God has appointed me another seed." So rather than Cain, the first son, being viewed as the work of her hands, the second, or rather the third son, in place of Abel, is viewed as a gracious gift. And it is through Seth, not through human effort, but by divine appointment, that the promised deliverer will come. The Genesis 3:15 promise would come through the line of Seth. And in fact, thousands of years later, a greater Son than Seth would come. And that would be God's own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who would crush the head of the serpent, and who would bring salvation to Adam's race.

But we also see a new book. In chapter 5, verse 1, it says, "This is the book of the genealogies of Adam." Once again, another generation, another genealogy. Remember the Hebrew word, Toledot. Another section, another narrative begins. It's the book of the genealogy. It's the book of Adam. And this genealogy, unlike chapter 4, will follow the lineage of Adam's other son, Seth.

Now in contrast to the ungodly line of Cain, Seth's line is marked by those who fear the Lord. One thing we learn about the line of Seth is that they aren't recorded as having built any great cities. They aren't remembered for making great advances in technology, or art, or culture, or music.

The passage reveals that the line of Seth is distinct. Their mother, Eve, came from a place of darkness, yet their nature and culture reflected a commitment to a life aligned with God’s purposes. Their legacy, rooted in faith, stands in contrast to those who pursue worldly ambitions, for many are drawn to fleeting goals that ultimately lead to emptiness. But the legacy of Seth’s descendants is one of enduring hope, as they lived with the eternal in view, prioritizing heaven over temporary pleasures. So who are you living for this morning? What kind of life are you leading, and what kind of legacy will you leave behind?

Now the line of Seth may have seemed insignificant in the eyes of the Canaanites, but in God's eyes they were great because, as we read in chapter 5, the text says over and over again, "he lived" and "he lived" and "he lived." The Canaanites thought they were living, but they weren't truly living. The Sethites were living because they were walking with God. They were living for God. They knew what life was all about. Likewise, Jesus came to give us His life and life more abundantly—but we also read that it says, "he died" and "he died." Remember, it's not recorded about Cain's descendants—even though that is true.

So what's the difference? It's that the Sethites' death had meaning. Their lives and their deaths are recorded in great meticulous detail. They don't simply vanish into obscurity. They leave a lasting legacy. We're going to read this phrase, "and he died," eight times in this chapter. What is God doing? God is proving Satan a liar. Remember in the Garden of Eden he said, "take the fruit, you will not surely die, you'll be like God." Of course they died. They died spiritually and they would die physically, but also it points us to the one who would come through Seth's line who would give his life so that we may live. One greater than Seth who would defeat death so that like the Sethites, death would no longer be the end for us. Their lives point to something greater. Even in death, the Sethites had hope. Why? Because they knew they were going to a better country. They had a heavenly home.

The birth of Seth also marks a new beginning. Let's read in verse one. It says, "In that day that God created men, he created him in the likeness of God. He created them male and female and blessed them and called them mankind in the day they were created." And Adam lived 120 years and begot a son in his own likeness after his image and named him Seth. And after he begot Seth, the days of Adam were 800 years, and he had sons and daughters. So all the days that Adam lived were 930 years, and he died. So once again, chapter 5, this new genealogy reiterates what we learned in chapter 1 and 2, that God created male and female in his own image and they are to multiply and fill the earth. Now, many scholars believe that the population before the flood may have been as great as it is today. How so? Remember, Adam and Eve had other sons and daughters. They did not simply have Cain and Abel and Seth. And of course, people always ask, "Well, where did Cain get his wife?" Well, think about it. It's pretty obvious it would have to be a sister. And people say, "Whoa, whoa, whoa!" But remember, that's long before the times of genetic mutations that cause all the problems that interbreeding with close relatives causes today. The Bible says that Adam, just as he was made in the image of God, now he produces children in his own image. Did you know that scientists can trace every human being back to two original ancestors? How about that? Science proving the Bible accurate once again. These ancestors are known as Y chromosomal Adam and mitochondrial Eve. In other words, every human being on the face of the planet—we're all kin. We all come from two people. Wonder who those people are though? The Bible provides the answer. It's Adam and Eve. Isn't it? Not the process of millions of years of evolution, but of course, Adam's family soon divides. We have Cain and then we have Seth. And Adam lives 930 years, long enough to witness both the devastating effects of sin and the fall, but also he lives long enough to see God's faithfulness in preserving a seed. Now, think about this. And this is going to be the meat and potatoes of our sermon. In these early generations after Eden, we see a beautiful progression of faith from Abel and Seth all the way to Noah, and it lays out a pattern for our own walk with God today. And each life shows a vital aspect of the life of God and it's a life of the gospel life. And those aspects are worship, witness, walking, waiting, and working. Now, if you want to jot this down in your notes, we're going to divide Seth's line into two groups. The first group is going to be known as the patriarchs. The second group is going to be known as the prophets. So let's jump into the patriarchs now. Although this first one's not in the line of Seth, he's still one of the early believers we can learn from, and his name is Abel. And remember, Abel, Seth's brother, his righteous brother. He worshipped God. He gave God an offering, a sacrifice that pleased him. And Abel teaches us that true faith begins with worship, giving God our first, giving God our best, and trusting his way of salvation. And then we see Seth, who is the wellspring used by God to preserve the seed. He is the man appointed by God and he points us to the ultimate man, the ultimate Son appointed by God and sent by God to be the Savior.

And then we find his son, Enosh, in chapter 4, verse 26. Interesting thing about Enosh. It says that at that time, people began to call upon the name of the Lord. So Enosh witnessed. Abel worshipped. Seth was a wellspring. And now Enosh is a witness to God and for God. He puts a public witness on display. He calls on the name of the Lord. He depends upon God and proclaims his name. Friends, if we truly have faith in God, if we have called upon his name, we must also make his name known. We must declare our trust in him. And get your pens ready. The name Enosh means mortal man. It means frail. It means weak. He's a mortal man. He's frail. He's weak. But it is during his lifetime that men began to call upon the name of the Lord because they recognize their own frailty and their own mortality. And with that awareness comes a significant spiritual shift. Men begin to call upon the name of the Lord. Friends, we would do well to do the same thing. We would do well to remember that life is short. It is a vapor. And death is certain unless we go by way of the rapture. And the only way to be prepared for eternity is to do what Enosh did and call upon the name of the Lord. Because the Bible says in Joel 2:32 and Romans 10:13 that whosoever will call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. So I want to ask you this morning, have you called upon the name of the Lord? Have you trusted Jesus to be your Lord and Savior? Have you called upon him in faith and repentance and said, "Lord, forgive me. Jesus, save me." Have you placed your trust in him?

So in contrast to the Canaanites who were building cities in their own name, the Sethites, beginning with Enosh, began to call upon the greatest name—not their name, but the name above all names. They realized that the name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous run to it, and they are safe. They are not building cities for their own name. They are living to make his name known. So Enosh and his generation served as a witness. They are humble. They are dependent on the Lord. They contrast the arrogant and self-reliant Canaanites. They call upon God—and may the same be said of us.

Now we're going to look at three obscure yet worthy men. The Bible says in verse six, it says that Seth lived 105 years and begot Enosh. After begetting Enosh, Seth lived 807 more years and had sons and daughters. Seth lived to be 912 years and he died. Enosh lived 90 years and begot Canaan. After begetting Canaan, Enosh lived 815 more years and had sons and daughters. Enosh ultimately lived 905 years. Canaan lived 70 years and begot Mahalalel. After begetting Mahalalel, Canaan lived 840 more years. So he lived 910 years. Mahalalel lived 65 years and begot Jared. Mahalalel lived a total of 895 years and he died.

Now, who on earth are these men? We don't really know much about them. Scripture is rather silent. They are, however, living links in the lineage of the Messiah. But let's look at their names and what their names mean. Canaan means possession or acquisition. Possession. And Canaan represents the way of receiving things from God rightly. In contrast to Cain, who took what did not belong to him—his brother's life and glory, for his own offering—Canaan protested the materialism of his day. And he stands as a reminder that God's blessings are not seized, but rather they are received by faith and obedience. He's one who walks in what God provides, not what man tries to take.

Then we have Mahalalel. Mahalalel means praise of God. And his name signifies a life that's marked by worship. And his legacy points us to a life that's a worship-centered life. A life not lived for the praise or applause or approval of man, but for the glory of God. His very name resounds with reverence and devotion to God. His life is a symphony of praise to God. He reminds us also that our chief end in life is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. Friends, I want my life to count, don't you? I want my life to be like a hymn of praise to God. I want to bring glory and honor to the one who made me. I want my life to be poured out as an offering to God. I want my life to be a chorus of worship.

Then we come to Jared. Jared's name means descent. D-E-S-C-E-N-T, descent. And this name may signify a warning of the fallen human condition of a society in decline. But yet, even in a descending generation, Jared remained faithful. He is a watchman of his time. He sees the moral descent around him, but he stands firm. Friends, we need people who stand firm in the truth. We need men and women who act as salt and light in a decaying and dark society.

Now, Jared and others like him are not remembered in history. They are overshadowed by figures like Enoch and Noah. But make no mistake, heaven never forgets these names. God knows their lives. God knows what they have done. And their works will forever be recorded in heaven. So praise God for the people laboring behind the scenes. Oftentimes, it is the pastor, deacons, and Sunday school teachers who are known. But let me tell you, it takes everyone doing their part in the church. Every person is an instrument, a member of the body. And God sees your work. So even if you don't receive the pat on the back and feel overlooked or forgotten, heaven never forgets. These men may seem obscure and overlooked, but God never forgets. And their reward will be great in heaven. Their names may not be celebrated by men, but they are celebrated and proclaimed in the presence of God.

Now, our second section, we get to the prophets. We get to a man named Enoch. Jared had a son named Enoch. Jared lived 800 years after. And he lived a total of 962 years. The Bible says Enoch lived 65 years and begot Methuselah. After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were 365 years.

Notice this verse. "And Enoch walked with God. And he was not, for God took him." We're going to camp out here with Enoch just for a few moments. Enoch walked with God. And he was not, for God took him. Enoch lived in daily fellowship with the Lord. His life was so pleasing to God that God took him to heaven.

I've heard one of the old preachers, maybe it was J. Vernon McGee, say one time that one day Enoch and God were walking. And God said to Enoch, "You know what, Enoch, you've been walking with me 300 years now. We're closer to my house than to yours. So why don't you just come home?" And that's exactly what happened. His life was pleasing to God. And he teaches us that faith deepens our walk. Daily communion. Not just moments of religion. It was a day-by-day relationship that Enoch enjoyed with God. So Enoch is walking with God.

Now, remember Enoch is number seven—the seventh son in the godly line of Seth. And like the seventh son in Cain's lineage, this seventh son also stands as a representative of his whole family. He is a righteous representative. And we can learn a lot from Enoch. While the Cainites pursued power and pleasure for themselves, Enoch was living for one thing—and that is to please God. So I want to ask us this morning: who are we living for? Are we living our lives to please the Lord? Are we leveraging our time and our actions and talents and resources to glorify God?

Secondly, Enoch walked with God. That means he lived in close, personal fellowship. Notice when he began to walk with the Lord. He was 65 years old, the same year that his son Methuselah was born. And then he walked with God for 300 years. Let me tell you, nothing will make you walk with God or pray harder than having children. Something happened in Enoch's life. And that was the birth of a son. And maybe he thought, maybe I should walk with God a little bit closer. Maybe I should watch how I walk because there's two little feet following behind me whose footsteps I will be setting.

But the Bible also says, in the New Testament, that walking is used as a metaphor for how we live. The Bible says to walk in the Spirit, to walk in love, to walk in light. So friends, we are not just to walk for God—we are to walk with God, hand in hand, constant communion and fellowship with our Creator.

Enoch also teaches us, friends, to walk with God even in the midst of a perverse and dark generation. While the Canaanites were all around them, prospering in their sin, here is a man who stood out above the rest. Here is a man who is walking with God. And can I tell you, you put your hand in Jesus' hand and walk with Him. And you can't be hand in hand with Jesus and the devil. They're walking two separate ways. You've got to choose who you're going to serve. You've got to choose what kind of life you're going to live. Enoch walked against the current of his culture. And if you live for God, you're going to do the same thing. You're going to run roughshod over what culture and society says, but that's okay. I'd rather be pleasing to God and come home in heaven with Him than receive the temporary applause and approval of a fallen society.

Enoch walked with God much like Adam and Eve did years before, in the garden before sin. Adam ran from God after the fall, but now we see his descendants beginning to walk with God again. And how do we walk with God? We walk with God by walking with Jesus, who reconciles us and restores the fellowship with God that was lost through sin.

But wait, there's more. Not only did Enoch walk with God, but Enoch never saw death. He's one of two individuals in Scripture who never died, but were taken instead. He walked instantaneously to heaven. Anybody know who the other one is? It's Elijah. Good job, guys. It is Elijah. He broke the pattern in Genesis 5. We see a pattern—lived and died, lived and died. With Enoch, it's different: he lived, walked with God, and was not. He cheated death. He broke the cycle.

Enoch reminds us that in Adam we all die, but in Christ we're all made alive. He cheats the grave because God takes him. Now, what does this word mean? God takes him. It's a Hebrew word. It means to seize. It means to snatch up. It means to receive to oneself. I'll give you some examples. It's used for Elijah when he was taken up in the chariot of fire into heaven. It's used of Israel in Deuteronomy 4:20 when it says God took Israel from Egypt to be His covenant people. It's used in Genesis 24:67 when Isaac takes Rebekah as his wife. Therefore, it is a covenant marriage term. It is very intimate. So when God takes Enoch, He's not merely physically removing him, but it's a personal divine act of receiving Enoch into His presence. It is a supernatural communion not through death, but through translation into life. God is taking him as His own precious possession.

But Paul in the New Testament uses a similar word in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. It says, "Those who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord." Harpazo—it's where we get the word rapture. Guess what it means? To snatch up. To seize. To receive unto oneself. So what is Enoch? Enoch is a prototype of those who will go out in the rapture—those who walk with God on this earth and that generation of people. And that generation of believers who will be caught up in the air to meet the Lord. Who will cheat death when the Lord returns. Enoch is a picture of that rapture generation—a living witness. He reminds us that God will not leave his people in death. He's a reminder that there is hope beyond the grave. That we will not all sleep. That we will be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye. That the dead in Christ will rise. And those who are alive and remain will be caught up with the Lord in the air. And we will forever be with him. Praise God for that.

How do we know? Because Jesus rose from the dead. Because Jesus entered death itself and defeated it. And Jesus says, "Because I live, you also will live." He is the resurrection and the life. Friends, we serve a Savior who is the greater Enoch. We serve a warrior Savior who defied death, who conquered the grave, who rose in power. And now He shares His victorious life with those who will believe in Him. And the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead will also raise us up.

Enoch is a reminder for believers that death does not have the final say. Death doesn't win, friends. Our victory is assured at the cross in the empty tomb. You know what death can do? All that death can do to the believer is usher him or her right into the presence of their Lord. All that death is to the believer is a doorway through which we walk into eternity. Death has no claim over Enoch. Death had no claim over our savior. And death has no claim over us. So whether we go by the way of the grave or the way of the rapture, we walk with God and we will enter ultimately into our eternal home.

But Enoch is a type of this greater Enoch to come—Jesus Christ. The one who walks with God. The one who pleased Him in every way. The one who ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father, where He lives to intercede for us. And because we have a living Savior, we can say, "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through the Lord Jesus Christ. So I want to encourage you. Maybe you have a loved one who’s passed on and you’re dealing with some grief. Let me tell you. If they are a believer, death does not win. Death is not the end. That is just the beginning of eternity. Jesus cheated death. Enoch cheated death. And we will as well.

But not only did Enoch walk with God and get raptured, but he was also a prophet. And the book of Jude in the New Testament, verses 14 and 15, records one of his early prophecies. This is one of the earliest prophets in the Bible. Let me read it to you. Jude writes, "It was also about these that Enoch the seventh from Adam prophesied, saying, 'Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones to execute judgment on all and to convict all of the ungodly of all of their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.'"

You know what Enoch saw? He saw not the first coming of Christ. He saw the second coming. When He comes with ten thousands of His saints. Now picture this. You are just seven generations removed from Adam and you are already seeing the second coming of the King. The second coming of Christ who comes with ten thousands of His holy ones to execute judgment and to reign upon the earth to make all things new. So even before the flood the story of redemption had already been written. Enoch sees the Lord Jesus Christ coming in power and in glory. And therefore Enoch is a preacher of righteousness. Enoch is saying Jesus will return. He is going to come with ten thousands of His holy ones with an angelic host and He is going to be glorified among His saints.

Let's look at these other two before we get to Noah—Methuselah and Lamech. They remind us to wait on God. Now the name Methuselah means "when he dies, it shall come." If you want to write that down. Now Methuselah's long life symbolizes God's patience before He brings judgment. Now Enoch's prophecy didn't just end with the prophecy about Christ's coming but also prophesied by giving his son a sobering and chilling name—Methuselah. Not only would your name be a living prophecy, but your death would bring it. So it's a prophetic name. It's a warning built into the life of this man. It's as if God were saying, "I will hold back my judgment until this man dies." And guess what happened—the year Methuselah died, the 600th year of Noah, the flood came upon the earth just as Enoch prophesied. He didn't know what was coming, but God was going to bring judgment, and it happened the exact year that Methuselah died. Genesis 5:27 and Genesis 7:6.

Now how long did Methuselah live? The longest life recorded in Scripture—969 years. That's an exceptionally long time. But it's not random. It's a display of God's incredible patience and mercy, giving people ample time to repent and get right with God before sending the flood. I find it particularly noteworthy that the longest recorded life is a symbol of God's patience. Is God not patient? Is God not long-suffering? Is God not willing that any should perish but all should come to repentance? Absolutely. That is precisely demonstrated in the long life of Methuselah. He didn't leave himself without witness. The Sethites—all of them—stood as living testimonies.

Now one question people have is how on earth did people live so long? Some people have gone so far as to say, "Well, this is just poetry—they really didn't live this long; this is just Hebrew poetic literature, kind of like other Near Eastern literature." But there are several good answers to that. Number one, the water here could have been more stable before the flood. It possibly could have had a water canopy or firmament, as Genesis 1–7 refers to, which would shield harmful UV rays from coming in and create a greenhouse effect that would promote ideal living conditions. Also, scientists believe that before the flood, the earth may have had higher concentrations of oxygen, which would make cellular regeneration more efficient, reducing the prevalence of disease. Also, human genetics were closer to Adam’s original source long before genetic mutations and inherited diseases could take effect. But beyond science, the main reason is theological. God was giving humanity time to repent before he brought the judgment of the flood.

Now think about this: the long life of Methuselah is like a divine clock ticking down. Can you imagine Enoch? "Methuselah, get out of that tree—we don't want you falling and dying. Methuselah, be careful not to get choked on that. Don't play in the street. We don't need judgment to come right now." And every birthday of Methuselah was another extension of God's divine mercy.

Now how long did people live? We saw Adam live 930 years. Have you ever wondered how many of his descendants Adam knew? I was curious, so I'll give you the answer and you won't have to do the math. Well, Adam of course knew Seth his son. He lived to know Enosh. He lived to know Kenan and Mahalalel and Jared and Enoch and Methuselah and Lamech. He did not know Noah. Adam died 126 years before Noah was born, but he almost got there.

Now what's the big idea? It's the fact that Adam lived this long, and all of the people—Sethites and Cainites included—went to the original source and asked Adam, "What's wrong with us?" You get that? What was it like walking with God in the garden? What was life like when it was perfect? And why do we see violence, vice, and disease? Well, he could have said, "It was because I disobeyed by eating the forbidden fruit." They had to witness Adam's account. They had to witness Enoch's. In 969 years, God shows incredible patience.

Now we get to a man named Lamech. Lamech’s name in Hebrew can mean powerful, but it can also mean despairing. But in his despair, Lamech finds strength and power not in himself, but in God’s promise. As Lamech looks around at the chaos around him, he knows God cannot allow this to continue on indefinitely. He believes God will intervene and will do so in the life of his son, Noah. Now we like to talk about Noah, and we’re going to talk about Noah for the next couple of weeks. But never underestimate the power of a godly parent. Noah was righteous. Noah walked with God. But from whom did Noah learn these things? It was from Lamech, whom we don’t know much about. So never underestimate the power and influence of being a godly parent or grandparent. And like his grandfather Enoch, Lamech is a prophet and he prophesies by naming his son Noah. The name Noah means rest or comfort. And he’s saying, “Son, I know that in your lifetime, God is going to use you to bring peace, to bring relief from this sin-cursed earth.” Look in verse 29: “He called his name Noah to comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands because of the ground which the Lord has cursed.” And Lamech lives 595 years and had other sons and daughters. He lives a total of 777 years, and he dies—and now Noah. And he’s 500 years old when he begets his three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. So through Noah, God is giving humanity a new beginning. It’s through Noah the human race is given a new hope. Noah worked for God. The Bible says that Noah built the ark according to God’s specifications. That he did all that God commanded him. Noah teaches us that true faith produces works—not the other way around. If we truly have faith in God, our lives will prove it. He was a preacher of righteousness to his ungodly generation. He warned them to flee from the wrath to come, to bring a flood. He was also moved with fear and obedience and he built an ark to the saving of his family and ultimately to all of mankind. He lives up to his name—2 Peter 2:5—He’s a preacher of righteousness. He does all the Lord commands him. And we’ll talk more about Noah next week. But in many ways, he is a type of the greater Noah—the one who would come as the head of the new race of believers in the family of God, Jesus. He’s the true and better Noah because like Noah, he brings peace. But he brings even greater peace. He is the Prince of Peace. And he creates peace between God and man and between man and man. He’s also the one who brings comfort and rest. In Matthew 11:28, Jesus’ invitation is, “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened. I will give you rest, comfort, safety.” He’s also the one who will ultimately reverse the curse of the ground and usher in a new heaven and a new earth. And just like Noah passed through the waters of judgment on an instrument of wood, the ark, our Savior would pass through the waters of God’s judgment through an instrument of wood as well. Anybody guess what that instrument is? It’s a cross. Jesus on the cross would pass through the waters of God poured out upon him in our place. And in so doing, Jesus becomes our ark of safety. And if we are in him, we find salvation, we find comfort, we find peace, we find restoration, we find divine rest.

So let's recap. These early faithful men reveal worship in God, witness for His name, walking with Him daily, and the last bit of information—and it is so awesome. Everybody wrote down their names? I hope you did. We'll go through it together. Because what we see in the meaning of these names is a foreshadowing of the gospel in the genealogies of Seth. Now although we must exercise caution and avoid interpreting every name in Scripture with our own intentions, we also know that every name in the Bible has a meaning, and based upon their context, they have weight and significance. Often, in the Bible, the meaning of a name would reflect a person's character, their calling, or their actions. So let's take these names at face value, put them together, work the puzzle, and then read them together. Seth is appointed. Enosh is mortal, frail. Kenan can also mean sorrow—so if you want to put "sorrow" by there, it can mean acquisition, but can also mean a sorrowful acquisition—so write "sorrow." Mahalalel—remember the man whose name was a blessing of worship to God; he is the one who blesses God. Jared is descent or "shall come down." Enoch is teaching or dedicated. Remember Methuselah—his death shall be sent, or his death shall bring something; something is going to happen when he dies. Lamech is despairing. Noah is comfort, peace, or rest. Now let's put them all together. Everybody ready to put them all together?

A man who was appointed, mortal sorrow, but the Blessed God shall come down, teaching us that his death shall bring the despairing comfort and rest. Is that not a picture of the gospel? Is that not what Jesus did by His coming, that He would come for man who was appointed, mortal sorrow, the Blessed God to come down? Because Jesus is God, God is coming to our rescue, and He would teach us that His death would bring those who are despairing, those who are lost, bring them comfort, bring them rest, bring them peace, bring them salvation. And I believe that the gospel is hiding in plain sight in the genealogies of Seth. They hereby ask, "Well, what's the point of all these begot's and begotten's?" Well, let me tell you, every word of God is there for a reason, and it all points to the Lord Jesus Christ. It all points us to the good news and the hope held out in the gospel. So this morning, as they come and give us a hymn of invitation, maybe you want to worship this blessed God. Maybe you need to be like the men in Enosh's day who needs to call upon the name of the Lord for salvation and you want to walk with God in daily fellowship, not just checking boxes, but a close, intimate relationship with God. Or maybe like Noah, you want to walk with Him in obedience and you want to find rest in the ark of safety who is the Lord Jesus Christ.

You can pray where you are or if you would like to come and be prayed for, grab myself or a friend. This altar is open. Just come and spend time in prayer with the Lord. Page 465, *Only Trust Him*. Would you stand, please? And serve, sing to the Lord. And He will share His faithfulness. I trust Him in His love. Only trust Him, only trust Him, only trust Him now. We will say, we will say, we will say, we will say, Lord Jesus, share His precious blood and bless His daily soul. I trust Him in His love. I trust Him in His love. And He will share His faithfulness. Only trust Him, only trust Him, only trust Him, only trust Him, only trust Him now. He will save you, He will save you, He will save you now. Yes, Jesus is the true man, and He too will rest. He will heal you now. He will heal you now. Only trust Him, only trust Him, only trust Him, only trust Him, always keep our faith blessed, only trust Him, only trust Him, only trust Him, only trust Him. He will save you, He will save you, He will save you nice and strong. What joy and joy this is, God, how great, so long in heaven, come to glory, my home. To do nothing, there is a million strong men, where joy, sleep, and hope belong. All they trust in You, all they trust in, all they trust in You, my love. He has saved you, He has saved you, He has saved you, my love. As we turn our attention to Noah and the flood, remember that the same God who saves us now is the God who has always been faithful, from the genealogies of Seth to the promise of redemption through Jesus Christ.

Do some homework and read through it. We'll look at the first half of chapter 6. We'll look at the reasons for the flood. And we'll get to know this man named Noah a bit better. And we'll study his life for the next couple of weeks. But thank you so much for being here—your faithfulness is greatly appreciated. It would be hard for me to preach if I didn't have people to preach to. So thank you for being here. Remember, we're going to have a covered dish. The prerequisite to be a Baptist is being saved, baptized, and owning a casserole dish—or a crock pot, that’s right. Either will do. So I would love to have you there with us and celebrate with us and have some good time for fellowship. So Brother Dennis, do you mind leading us in the blessing over the food?