“Generations were changed because of her.”
This phrase was spoken in a recent conversation. It was a conclusion to the story of someone’s grandmother. She came to faith as a young adult and then led her husband to Jesus. Following that, her children came to Jesus. Finally, her grandchildren.
One of her grandsons noted that “generations were changed because of her.” When this lady’s life was changed, the result was felt generationally.
It was a beautiful story and reminds me of how the Lord blesses generations. As we continue our study in Genesis, we are at Genesis 4:25–26.
Adam made love to his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, “God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him. ”Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh.
Genesis 4:25-26, New International Version
At that time people began to call on the name of the LORD.
We come back in time a little bit (compared to where Cain’s line ends from last week with Lamech) and see the mercy of God to Adam and Eve. Seth was given to them. The righteous lineage was restored by replacing Abel with Seth.
Seth, too, in time, had a son named Enosh.
As pointed out earlier, Cain’s family was marked by murder and godlessness. Worship of the Lord marked Seth’s family tree. “…At that time, men began to call on the name of the LORD.”
We have already commented on the contrast between Cain’s line (chapter 4) and Seth’s family history (chapter 5). This is sharpened by the end of verse 26. Here, Enosh and his descendants contrast with Cain’s descendants, who are remembered for their urbanization of society and the vices introduced by Lamech.
But what does the last line mean? “At that time men began to call on the name of the LORD.” Does that mean they didn’t call on the name of the Lord before?
The issue is very complex. In Hebrew, the sentence has no subject. Literally, in English, the sentence would read, “At that time call on the name of the Lord.” In English, that sentence would have an assumed subject (“you”)…as in “at that time, YOU call on the name of the Lord.” But that’s not how Hebrew works.
The best scholars have determined a fairly accurate translation to be “At that time people began to worship God by saying, ‘We praise you, Yahweh.’ ” The issue is that there is still a lot of “filling in the details” in the sentence. Now, you’re seeing the complexity.
Although worship through offerings was practiced by Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:1–4), Gen 4:26b announces a new direction in formal worship. This also occurred when Abram built an altar upon arriving in Canaan, where the same descriptive phrase occurs (Genesis 12:8). There was a marked change in the formal worship of Yahweh (translated as “the LORD”)
Thus, in Genesis 4:26, there was a decisive change in how the descendants of Adam and Eve worshipped the Lord. It was generational and followed these families.
This final note also gives us a bright ending to an otherwise dismal account of sin and death. This section of Genesis (toledot) spanned from Genesis 2:4-4:26, and this ending reminds us of the hope for sinful humanity.
Never underestimate your influence on future generations. One day, one of your grandchildren (or great-grandchildren) may very well comment, “Generations were changed…”
Life Meets Theology 