Wicked or Godly



Genesis 4:17-26
17Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch.
18To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech.
19And Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
20Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock.
21His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe.
22Zillah also bore Tubal-cain; he was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.
23Lamech said to his wives: “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say: I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me.
24If Cain’s revenge is sevenfold, then Lamech’s is seventy-sevenfold.”
25And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.”
26To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord.

The descendants of Adam and Eve now take up the lives that God has given to them; and they go in two directions. First we are told of Lamech. He introduces bigamy to the culture by taking two wives and we are shown just who he is by his attitude toward those who may have wronged him. If God would take revenge on anyone who would hurt Cain (vs. 15) Lamech himself would take care of the revenge should anyone harm him personally. He is clearly a difficult person. Seth is born to Adam and Eve. Eve sees him as a gift from God because of Abel’s death. Seth becomes the father of those who are still willing to be in relationship with God and his descendants are willing to call on the name of the Lord.

One of the questions I often get asked when studying Genesis is “Who did they marry?” This is a tough one for us to accept but they married their siblings. There wasn’t anyone else! Here is my speculation – sin had not yet left its tragic mark on the gene pool. When Adam and Eve sinned, they were physically perfect; no genetic hiccups. By the time we to Moses, God prohibits that practice entirely and we still prohibit sexual relations between family members today. Remember, these people lived for hundreds of years. In all likelihood, Cain and Seth didn’t even really know one another as children, which may have also been true for their sisters. While it would be weird for us to marry a brother or sister, it wasn’t for them. It was their only option.

In this passage we see a glimpse of the importance of leadership. Lamech leads his wives and children away from God while Seth leads them to God. Which direction do you lead those who look to you for guidance? There’s another question that deserves to visited now and again.

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