Pastor's Blog (Page 33)
Walking With
The reign of death in Genesis 5 is punctuated with the story of Enoch. Each life before and after Enoch is summarized with, “and he died.” In sharp contrast, “Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.” In case we missed it, the book of Hebrews spells it out: Enoch did not die. “By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; and he was not found…
Notable advancements
Cain and his sons and grandsons kept themselves busy with notable advances to civilization: city-building, animal husbandry, music, and metallurgy. But Cain’s brother Seth took a different tack. Genesis 4:25-26 paints asharp contrast between the two families. * When Cain had a son he built a city and named it after him. At Seth’s birth, however, his parents readily saw…
“Corn-fused!”
Need a little humor on this gloomy, rainy day? Did you hear about the family that got lost in a corn maze? No kidding. They became corn-fused. After they couldn’t find their way out of a maze of maize, Dad used his cell phone to dial 911. “Help! We’re stuck in a maze!” Within 9 minutes of entering the maze, rescuers found dad, mom, and their two children. No…
Lamech’s Swagger
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; If Cain is avenged sevenfold, Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold. ~ Genesis 4:23, 24 I picture Lamech swaggering a bit, sword in hand, as he ascends a small mound to recite his verse. And why not? He’s got twowives! His son…
Welcome to Enoch
In honor of his son, Cain builds a city and names it after him: “Enoch.” (Genesis 4:16,17) Why build a city, Cain? * For protection? Did you fear those “who will kill me? (4:14) * For distraction or diversion? Did you seek to “drown the clamours of a guilty conscience with the noise of axes and hammers”? (Matthew Henry) * Were you desperate…
Son of Wanderer
So Cain has left God’s presence and gone off to the land of wanderings, “away from the presence of the Lord” (Genesis 4:16-22). And now he fathers a son: Enoch. This son, born to the unrepentant murderer, is reared “away from the presence of the Lord.” In time he learns what happened and no doubt becomes convinced that in this place he, too,…