The Tale of Two Families [Genesis 4 & 5]

Thoughts:

Most everyone has heard of the story of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4) the first two recorded brothers in Scripture. God accepted Abel's sacrifice but did not accept Cain's. This made Cain furious enough to plot and carry out the murder of his brother Abel. Of course, God held him accountable for this murder and Cain was destined to be banished from the land. From this point, we see two sides of humanity's family tree emerge - The line of Cain, representing the City of Man, and the line of Seth, Adam and Eve's other son (Ge 4:25-26), representing the City of God.

City of  Man

In Cain's city of man, human cultural achievement and development apart from God is emphasized. We see perhaps the first recorded city in Scripture being founded by Cain. Then we see polygamy being introduced by Lamech and his two wives, Adah and Zillah. Adah bore Jabal and Jubal and Zillah bore Tubal-cain.  So within six generations, the line of Cain, had those who dwelt in tents and tended livestock (Jabal) (v. 20); those who played the lyre and pipe (Jubal) (v. 21); and those who created implements of bronze and iron (Tubal-Cain) (v 22). So we have agricultural, entertainment, and war being established through the line of Cain. The discussion of the line of Cain is finished with Lamech's poem of violence and vengeance, reflecting just how far humanity had gone from God's original design.

City of God

In Seth's city of God, we see faithfulness, divine blessings, and God's promise continuing. It was with the line of Seth that people began to worship the Lord by name (Ge 4:26). So God was being worshipped, God was blessing them, Enoch walked in close fellowship with God, so much so that he was taken away from this earth by God (Ge 5:24), and Noah the last man to be named in this lineage, was used by God to preserve humanity, through his three sons, Shem, Ham, Japeth (Ge 5:32).

  

Prayer:

Father, thank you that history is Yours. You are creator and sustainer of life. In this life we will have choices to follow You or follow our own way. Keep us from the temptation to do our own thing and find satisfaction and glory in creating our own city. Help us to strive after righteousness, peace, and love, while pursuing the City of God. In Jesus' name Amen.