Reflections on Genesis 5

Genesis 05 (Contemporary English Version)
1. God created men and women to be like himself. He gave them his blessing and called them human beings. This is a list of the descendants of Adam, the first man:
   
2. (SEE 5:1)
   
3. When Adam was one hundred thirty, he had a son who was just like him, and he named him Seth. Adam had more children
   
4. (SEE 5:3)
   
5. and died at the age of nine hundred thirty.
   
6. When Seth was one hundred five, he had a son named Enosh.
   
7. Seth had more children
   
8. and died at the age of nine hundred twelve.
   
9. When Enosh was ninety, he had a son named Kenan.
   
10. Enosh had more children
    
11. and died at the age of nine hundred five.
    
12. When Kenan was seventy, he had a son named Mahalalel.
    
13. Kenan had more children
    
14. and died at the age of nine hundred ten.
    
15. When Mahalalel was sixty-five, he had a son named Jared.
    
16. Mahalalel had more children
    
17. and died at the age of eight hundred ninety-five.
    
18. When Jared was one hundred sixty-two, he had a son named Enoch.
    
19. Jared had more children
    
20. and died at the age of nine hundred sixty-two.
    
21. When Enoch was sixty-five, he had a son named Methuselah,
    
22. and during the next three hundred years he had more children. Enoch truly loved God,
    
23. and God took him away at the age of three hundred sixty-five.
    
24. (SEE 5:23)
    
25. When Methuselah was one hundred eighty-seven, he had a son named Lamech.
    
26. Methuselah had more children
    
27. and died at the age of nine hundred sixty-nine.
    
28. When Lamech was one hundred eighty-two, he had a son.
    
29. Lamech said, "I'll name him Noah because he will give us comfort, as we struggle hard to make a living on this land that the LORD has put under a curse."
    
30. Lamech had more children
    
31. and died at the age of seven hundred seventy-seven.
    
32. After Noah was five hundred years old, he had three sons and named them Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
    
    

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    Through chapter 5 of Genesis bloodlines are traced in two directions: one through Cain and the other through Seth, the son born to Adam following the death of Abel.  Greater detail is given Seth's bloodline in this chapter than that of Cain in the previous chapter, but the contrasts between the two can be seen. Cain's murderous nature shows itself again in Lamech, and Seth's bent toward godliness resulted in those who, like Enoch, walked with God. Verse 1 of chapter 5 repeats the account that God made man in His image when He made Adam. Then verse 3 points out that Adam "fathered a child in his likeness, according to his image." Therefore, this child, Seth, was also in the image of God.
    
    This listing of Seth's descendents repeatedly states concerning each person, "then he died," emphasizing the result of sin, which is death. Man may seemingly prosper and have a good life in spite sin, but regardless of one's aspirations, they die. It comes to everyone. The list of Seth's descendants had one exception which was Enoch. He is said to have "walked with God, and he was not there, because God took him." Though he did not experience death, he still did not continue in this life. The sin in the garden sealed that deal. Man does not live forever on this earth no matter how godly a person may be. But then, no matter how godly a person is, everyone sins. None of us are immune.