We’re gonna look into Cain, Seth and finally Noah, but first: a story is written by an author.  The author chooses the story s/he wishes to tell.  Authors typically do not share the whole story, just the parts that make a particular story worth telling. The author of Genesis is God.  You could try to say that we believe the author of the book of Genesis is Moses – but it would be hard for Moses working in his natural abilities, even with the oral traditions of the people, to get this particular story straight without God (and God’s holy spirit).

Just in case you haven’t, please read my disclaimer.

To Start the discussion, please read .  No cheating, even if you think you know the story… Give it a read and don’t gloss over the lineage at the end cause I’m gonna bring it up.  All good? Okay. Let’s dive in!

Adam had relations with Eve and she gave birth to Cain.  Cain is a firstborn son.  Biblically speaking, firstborn sons have particular rights, privileges, and responsibilities.  I’m sure we could expand on that, but I’m not covering it right now, just pointing out the obvious.  After Cain, Adam and Eve produce Abel.

In time, we have an offering where Cain presents some of his stuff, and Abel presents the best fattened lambs of the first of his flock.   Huge contrast right there.  Cain’s heart saying: “Here, I have done my duty, have what is yours.” VS Abel’s heart: “I want to give you my best, yea, even my very future.”  I have heard sermons preached on this topic, and I’m sure there’s lots of info out there, but let’s move on.  In the King James Version, the word chosen for the Lord’s reaction is “respect”, as in . In the New Living Translation, after God accepts Abel’s offering we get “but he did not accept Cain and his gift.”.  The result of this is Cain is angry, mad and dejected.  You could say Cain took the rejection personally.  God even attempts to snap him out of it in by telling him to get over it or there will be consequences.  The anger and dejection surely continue until at last: Cain kills Abel.

We’ve all heard this story before. But let’s look really quick at what happens next.  God inquires, Cain feigns knowledge, God tells it like it is and adds the consequences.  Cain says it’s too much for him to bear.  God marks Cain so others will know not to kill him, Cain heads East, to the land of Nod where he settles.

Cain’s lineage recorded as follows:

  • Enoch
  • Irad
  • Mehujael
  • Methushael
  • Lamech – whom we read about as follows:

19 Lamech married two women. The first was named Adah, and the second was Zillah. 20 Adah gave birth to Jabal, who was the first of those who raise livestock and live in tents. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal, the first of all who play the harp and flute. 22 Lamech’s other wife, Zillah, gave birth to a son named Tubal-cain. He became an expert in forging tools of bronze and iron.

We will get back to Cain in a few minutes… How about Seth? .  Eve mentions in 4:25b … She named him Seth, for she said, “God has granted me another son in place of Abel, whom Cain killed.”

I have a question.  Did God grand Adam & Eve Seth to take Abel’s place or did God grant Adam and Eve Seth to become the new first-born son?  The firstborn son went astray and killed the second son resulting in the banishment of the first born.  At that point, Adam & Eve had no son (so to speak).
Enter Seth – the restored first-born son.

Seth continues Adam’s lineage as recorded:

  • Enosh
  • Kenan
  • Mahalalel
  • Jared
  • Enoch (who lived 365 years – 365 days in a year?)
  • Methuselah
  • Lamech (who lived 777 years and died pre-flood)
  • Noah

Do you find the list as interesting as I do.  We have some similar names in a similar order.  This kind of brings up a parallel for me.  Cain – the natural man, and Seth – the restored man.  In the lineage of both we have an Enoch.  One Enoch has a city built for him by the natural man (Cain), while the other walks so closely with God that he is taken up and doesn’t die.  Both lineages have a Lamech.  One Lamech is a polygamist and a murderer who swears anyone who kills him will be punished seventy-seven times.  The other Lamech gives birth to Noah who you might think about as the baptism.  Noah and his family are immersed in water while everything old passes away (death) – and a new covenant (life) is given to Noah.

God keeps giving us a picture of His redemptive work.  I hope I am not the only one who sees it.  There is more to go into in the details, and I encourage you to study further.  Perhaps we will discuss it together at a later time.