Articles
Lessons From a List of Names
It is a sad fact that most Americans have learned to skim books and publications for information that they deem relevant, but they skip over anything they find too boring, even if they click “I agree” at the end. This tendency has a lot of negative impacts, but perhaps in no place worse than in bible study. I cannot count the number of times people have complained in my hearing about the Old Testament being nothing but “a list of names” or a catalogue of laws we don’t follow anymore.
The latter complaint is an article for another day about the value of God’s lessons about holiness and righteousness (both of which are important for all saints), but the accusation that a list of names is unimportant today is just as mistaken. All of the genealogies in scripture have a specific purpose, and all of them are worth our investigation and appreciation.
The first major genealogy in scripture is found in Genesis 5 and immediately follows a shorter history in the end of Genesis 4. In the prior list, the descendants of Cain are detailed in their accomplishments (like the invention of music) as well as their cruelty (like killing people for insulting them). The mass of humanity on earth is pictured as being skilled, but also godless. In contrast, the people who came from Adam are listed as the generations march toward the birth of Noah, who was faithful in the midst of such cruelty.
What can be gleaned at first glance is that all of the names are associated with amazingly long lives, some even nearing a thousand years in length. This is an interesting contrast to later genealogies which show dwindling lifespans, approaching what we still see today. (Genesis 11:10-32) However, at the end of these legendary lives, each is punctuated (save one) at the end with the phrase, “and he died.” (Genesis 5:5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 17, 27, 31) Thus, God’s promise to Adam concerning the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:15-17) came true, despite the lies of the Serpent (Genesis 3:4).
This, by itself is an important lesson for all people. We, as a culture are obsessed with extending our lives, so that we can live longer and get more out of this life. This “boring list of names” is a demonstration that even if we could extend our lives past one, two, three, or even nine hundred years, we would still die due to the curse brought on creation by sin.
This brings us back to the one exception, Enoch. Enoch does not follow the same pattern, as is meant to stand out. “So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.” (Genesis 5:23-24) Not only being an early proof for the existence of an afterlife (took him where?), this is an encouragement for all of us who seek to walk with God. God sees and values the righteousness we accomplish on earth, and He will reward those who seek Him. (Hebrews 11:5-6)
