January 6, 2023

God's Design for People

Genesis 5:1 - 6:8

Mandy Figel
Friday's Devo

January 6, 2023

Friday's Devo

January 6, 2023

Big Idea

We can trust God when we don’t know how things will turn out.

Key Verse | Genesis 5:1-2

This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man when they were created.

Genesis 5:1 - 6:8

Adam's Descendants to Noah

This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man 1 5:2 Hebrew adam when they were created. When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. The days of Adam after he fathered Seth were 800 years; and he had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days that Adam lived were 930 years, and he died.

When Seth had lived 105 years, he fathered Enosh. Seth lived after he fathered Enosh 807 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Seth were 912 years, and he died.

When Enosh had lived 90 years, he fathered Kenan. 10 Enosh lived after he fathered Kenan 815 years and had other sons and daughters. 11 Thus all the days of Enosh were 905 years, and he died.

12 When Kenan had lived 70 years, he fathered Mahalalel. 13 Kenan lived after he fathered Mahalalel 840 years and had other sons and daughters. 14 Thus all the days of Kenan were 910 years, and he died.

15 When Mahalalel had lived 65 years, he fathered Jared. 16 Mahalalel lived after he fathered Jared 830 years and had other sons and daughters. 17 Thus all the days of Mahalalel were 895 years, and he died.

18 When Jared had lived 162 years, he fathered Enoch. 19 Jared lived after he fathered Enoch 800 years and had other sons and daughters. 20 Thus all the days of Jared were 962 years, and he died.

21 When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. 22 Enoch walked with God 2 5:22 Septuagint pleased God; also verse 24 after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23 Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. 24 Enoch walked with God, and he was not, 3 5:24 Septuagint was not found for God took him.

25 When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he fathered Lamech. 26 Methuselah lived after he fathered Lamech 782 years and had other sons and daughters. 27 Thus all the days of Methuselah were 969 years, and he died.

28 When Lamech had lived 182 years, he fathered a son 29 and called his name Noah, saying, “Out of the ground that the LORD has cursed, this one shall bring us relief 4 5:29 Noah sounds like the Hebrew for rest from our work and from the painful toil of our hands.” 30 Lamech lived after he fathered Noah 595 years and had other sons and daughters. 31 Thus all the days of Lamech were 777 years, and he died.

32 After Noah was 500 years old, Noah fathered Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Increasing Corruption on Earth

When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. Then the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not abide in 5 6:3 Or My Spirit shall not contend with man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” The Nephilim 6 6:4 Or giants were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown.

The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.

Footnotes

[1] 5:2 Hebrew adam
[2] 5:22 Septuagint pleased God; also verse 24
[3] 5:24 Septuagint was not found
[4] 5:29 Noah sounds like the Hebrew for rest
[5] 6:3 Or My Spirit shall not contend with
[6] 6:4 Or giants

"Why should we read genealogies?" Just search "Join The Journey" wherever you listen to podcasts!

Listen Now

Dive Deeper | Genesis 5:1 - 6:8

Did Methuselah really live 969 years? What in the world are Nephilim? Can God regret His actions? If you have these thoughts after reading today, you're not alone! The good news? God isn't afraid of our questions. He invites us into further study and understanding of Him and is certainly big enough to handle them. 

Today, we'll consider the most significant question raised in today's reading: What is God's intended design for people?

Genesis 5 opens with a call back to creation. Notice the allusions everywhere! We read of Adam and Eve who are made in the likeness of God. The 10-name genealogy reminds us of the 10 times in Genesis 1-2 where "God said," showing Him speaking creation to life. What do you think Genesis 5 might be trying to bring to mind? Creation of course!

As a recap, God fashioned the world in an outpouring of love. He shaped humans from dirt and breathed life into them so that they could be part of the love that already existed within the Trinity. Just like Jesus prays thousands of years later in John 17, "You, Father are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us."

God's design for humans? Beings made in the image of God, capable of relationship with God. Simple enough, right? Well...

In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve saw, desired, and took fruit they weren't supposed to eat, breaking union with God. In Genesis 6 we find a repeat when the Nephilim saw, desired, and took women, thus mingling human and spiritual beings, altering the basic ingredients for humanity. Further, Genesis 6:5 describes worldwide rebellion against God's design. But just because things have gone awry doesn't mean that all is lost.

God is passionate about His intended design and will preserve and restore it at any cost. This isn't because God just likes things His way. Rather, His design is for our good, leading to flourishing and rest. One day, God will restore all things so we'll be able to experience the perfect relationship with God for which we were created.

This month's memory verse

We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

– John 1:45b

Discussion Questions

1. If God's design leads to our flourishing, then it only makes sense that we consider if there are ways we are living outside His pattern. Are there any areas of your life that you'd like to ask the Holy Spirit to help bring you back in alignment with God's design?

2. As beings made in the image of God, we have inherent value in God's eyes. When you consider how God feels towards you, do you know that He loves you regardless of your performance or effort? Romans 5:8 says, "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." God's love isn't conditional.

3. Where do you go when you encounter tricky passages or questions while reading the Bible? Here are just a few of my favorite resources:

  • I ask a trusted friend to study the passage with me.
  • I head over to the Bible Project website to see if they have addressed the topic I'm studying.
  • I take a look at netbible.com where you can see different translations and commentary side-by-side.

As we gear up to release even more features for Join The Journey in 2025, our staff team, unfortunately, no longer has the margin to continue to support the comment functionality. We have big things in store for Join The Journey 2025. Stay tuned!

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Hugh Stephenson

The Three Big Questions- Q1. Who is God? Q2. Who am I? Q2. Why am I here? These are the three questions with which I struggled from youth until salvation at 56. -------------------------------------- What is interesting about this passage, particularly Genesis 6:1-8, is how far removed from the garden almost everyone is. And even more so, how far WE are removed, (I count myself in the “WE” The verse that sticks out is the last one, Genesis 4:26. The people are worshiping or praying to the LORD. So, they at least have some answer to Q1. If they understand Genesis 1:26-28, then they have the answer to Q2 & Q3. But there is no indication until we get to Enoch, (“dedicated one.”), who “…walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.” No death. God just took him. https://www.gotquestions.org/Enoch-in-the-Bible.html https://www.gotquestions.org/Enoch-Elijah.html
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Hugh Stephenson

I note the word translated as “walked” is hālaḵ. “…it conveys a sense of ongoing intimacy.” What did Enoch know that the others did not? I contrast him with the Nephilim/Sons of God whose name translates as “fallen ones” or “tyrants.” Now, if you had a chance to be “dedicated one” or “fallen one,” which would you choose? I say, “dedicated one”. But does my life reflect that? NERVOUS SILENCE…
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Hugh Stephenson

So, what is my answer to the three questions? 1. God is sovereign, Supreme and Sufficient “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” (Genesis 1:1). 2. I am made in God’s Image. He created me so that He and I could have an intimate and personal relationship; so that I could “hālaḵ” with Him. If I choose a life independent of Him, then I will not have His blessing. I will be a “Fallen One.” 3. I am here as God’s “Co-Regent,” to steward, care for and tend the ”garden” he has provided for me. A life independent of Him will make me dependent on and subject to my sinful nature rather than His divine nature. This is the “wide road” of Matthew 7:13-14. It leads only to eternal destruction. Only the grace of God can intervene and save me.
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Chris Landry

Thanks for writing for us today! I went down a 30 minute rabbit hole on GotQuestions.org when I searched the word “Nephilim.” I’m amazed at how much I don’t know about ancient writings, beliefs, and understandings. Worth a rabbit hold dive if you have time. For me, my takeaway after reading is simple: God has always and will always be in charge. Therefore, I must be quick to notice when my pride wants to pervert my view on God’s trustworthiness. My perversion or distortion of what is good and true is destructive and demonic by nature.
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Michael Scaman

Tallying the list of ages.... Adam died about 40 years before Noah was born, Lamech died maybe 5 years before the flood. Methuselah died the year of the flood. Did anyone notice or did life go on? Mn's age would be shorted as a restraint and it would take longer to build the ark in the patience of God than people would live long after the flood when the new normal set in. God will sometimes mix a blessing with a restraint. The ground bore thorns and death entered the world because of Adam. Jesus would wear a crown of thorns and enter and conquer death. Mankind's age would be restrained but in the first account of a couple suffering the effects of old age, a promised child would come as a blessing to all families on earth pointing to Jesus the ultimate promised child.
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emma dotter

The obstacle for many of us is that as we begin to read the Old Testament we come across passages like today's where we see long lists of crazy names and people who live to be hundreds of years old and these passages seem to never end so why are they here what do they mean for us and how can we view them as more approachable how can we view them as valuable The thing is these passages are in the Bible for a reason and they're for our benefit believe it or not genealogies are for our benefit they are not something to be skipped over and the significance of genealogies is actually laid out for us right here at the beginning of today's chapter in genesis 5 beginning in verse one we read “this is the book of the generations of Adam.” When God created man he made him in the likeness of God male and female he created them and he blessed them and named them man n they were created. When Adam had lived 130 years he fathered a son in his own likeness after his image and named him seth” Why? Why do we need the book of the generations of Adam? These lists 1. Reveal God’s character – he keeps his word, he’s trustworthy 2. Remind us of God’s promises – he doesn’t forget them
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Amy Lowther

1. I wish for the Holy Spirit to continue strengthening my parents and me as they truthfully tell EVERYTHING I missed since I was separated from them at birth. I wish for the Holy Spirit to keep myself and my parents to God’s design. 2. Yes 3. If there is a tricky passage: -I reread it. -I look up key words of the passage for further explanation. -I consider who the characters are, their individual characteristics, their behaviors, and their interactions in the passage. -I then reread the passage. Usually it makes sense at that point. -If it is a passage fir a bible study or a community activity, I may also discuss the passage with fellow readers.
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Sue Bohlin

Thank you, Mandy! I am so intrigued by Enoch, marked twice in the text that he "walked with God." The only other person in the Bible of whom it's said he walked with God was Noah. (Then there's the disciples in the New Testament who walked with Jesus . . .) "Walking with God" is special to me because, as a polio survivor, I have always walked with a limp. God has allowed me to glorify Him with that limp in various ways as I testify to His goodness and grace. And now, after tongue cancer surgery on Tuesday that removed a chunk of my tongue, He's giving me a new "holy limp" with which to walk with Him. (Right now, with a swollen and damaged tongue, I sound like I'm playing the Chubby Bubby game where you try to talk with marshmallows in your mouth.) As I grieve the loss of my clear speech, I'm sure the Lord will show me how He will glorify Himself with whatever comes next. https://blogs.bible.org/a-holy-limp/
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Alan Beam

Mandy! Great devo, thank you for serving us and sharpening me in this way. 6:4 - The Nephilim can be a tough thing to swallow. I ignored them for a long time, but I've come to a place where I can humbly approach God's Word and, with lots of help from scholars and commentators, let the Spirit teach me truth. 6:5-8 - "Every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time." God deals justly with sin via the flood, while remaining faithful to His promise of 3:15 by preserving Noah and his family. He has dealt justly with my sin on the cross, and preserved me by His grace. I too often underappreciate the devastation caused by my sin, and downplay the price Christ paid.
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Michael Sisson

Re: Genesis 6:8 By their continual wickedness, all mankind (except for Noah) has rejected G-d (see 2Pet 2:5). G-d is now ready to reject mankind (See Gen 6:11-13). Only Noah finds favor in G-d's eyes (See Gen 7:1), and in Noah's loins is the Messiah (notice Noah does not become the father of Shem until Gen 6:10).
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Michael Sisson

It can be difficult to glean much insight directly from genealogical passages in and of themselves. However, when viewed through the lens of the whole biblical narrative, genealogies become invaluable for understanding some “big picture” truths. Here are just two examples of broad insights genealogies bring to the biblical narrative as a whole: 1. A man’s genealogy is indispensable for supporting his messianic qualifications. This is why both Matthew and Luke give Jesus’ lineage near the beginning of their gospels as they build their cases for Jesus being Israel’s long awaited Messiah (see Mt 1:1-17 and Lk 3:23-38). 2. As we journey through the Bible, trace the genealogies of several villains in scripture, and you’ll find a surprising number are descendants of Esau. Thus, genealogies can shed light on the unseen spiritual realities behind the narrative.