Monday, February 18, 2019

2019.02.18 Hopewell @Home ▫ Genesis 4:25-5:32

Questions for Littles: What does Eve name the son in Genesis 4:25? Why? By what name were men called in Genesis 4:26? In whose likeness was Adam made (Genesis 5:1)? In whose likeness was Seth begotten (Genesis 5:3)? What happened to nearly all of the men in chapter 5? What did Enoch do after he begot Methuselah (Genesis 5:22)? What happened to him instead of dying (Genesis 5:24)? What did Noah’s dad hope that he would bring (Genesis 5:29)?
In the Scripture for this week’s sermon, the Holy Spirit teaches us about the twin family-realities of our fallenness and God’s grace.

Bearing children reminds us that we are fallen. Adam fell from his original state, created in God’s image and according to God’s likeness. So, when at the age of 130, Adam father Seth “in his own likeness, after his image” (Genesis 5:3), it is a sobering reminder that this is not exactly the image and likeness in which man was first created. All parents have seen this in their children—our own sin being borne out in their characters as well. And what we see in the spirit, we also see in the body. Not just they have their father’s nose or their mother’s eyes—but that they die their parents’ death. It’s the refrain of this chapter: “and he died… and he died… and he died…”

But, bearing children also reminds us of God’s grace. There was something about Seth becoming the father of Enosh that led Adam and Seth and Enosh to call on (or by) the Name of Yahweh together. It was a mercy that multiple generations were being born. And the responsibility of caring for eternal souls was great. Later, something happens to Enoch, when we begets Methuselah. Genesis 5:21 says that Enoch “lived” 65 years. But then, after he begets Methuselah, Genesis 5:22 changes the verb (in contrast to all the other accounts in this chapter): Enoch “walked with God” three hundred years. Again, fatherhood was something that the Lord used to turn their hearts toward the Lord.

We can even see this in the names of the children. Eve gave Seth the name “appointed,” recognizing and submitting to the fact that this child belongs to God. Lamech called his son Noah, or “rest,” expressing gospel hope in the one who would reverse the curse.
How is it evident that gospel hope—despite the fall—is the center of your home life?
Suggested Songs: ARP32A “What Blessedness” or TPH130A “Lord, from the Depths to You I Cry!”

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