Genesis 5-6
For those who have not read the Bible, you may be surprised by how long some of the men lived in the Early World. Adam, for example, lived for 930 years! There are several theories as to why men lived so long in that time. Their diet and environment were ideal. They needed to populate and cultivate the Earth. And it gave them time for revelation and redemption. Check out Tabletalk’s article Why Did People in Genesis Live for So Long? if you are interested in a deeper dive of these theories (Why Did People in Genesis Live for So Long? | Tabletalk (tabletalkmagazine.com) ). Genesis 5 outlines the genealogy of Adam and Eve. Genesis 6 is the familiar story of Moses. God’s desire to clean the slate of mankind is an overwhelming and fascinating story.
Summary
God created human beings in God’s likeness. Adam lived a total of 930 years. Seth, Adam’s son, lived a total of 912 years. Enosh, Seth’s son, lived for 905 years. Kenan, Enosh’s son, lived for 910 years. Mahalalel, Kenan’s son, lived for a total of 895 years. Jared, Mahalalel’s son, lived for 962 years. Enoch, Jared’s son, lived for 365 years. It is said that Enoch walked with God, and God took him. Methuselah, Enoch’s son, lived for a total of 969 years. Lamech, Methuselah’s son, lived for 777 years. Lamech had a son named Noah and proclaimed that Noah would “comfort us from the pain of our work. The pain is because God cursed the ground.”
The number of people began to grow…daughters and sons. The sons of God started to marry and procreate with the daughters of men. The Nephilim were created and known for their great size and mighty warrior reputation. God saw that humans on Earth were wicked and violent. His heart was filled with pain. The Lord decided to destroy all living things, but spare Noah and his family because Noah pleased the Lord. Noah was the most innocent man at that time. God gave Noah specific instructions in how to build the boat and what to bring on the boat. Noah did everything that God asked of him.
Sidebar
The phrase “sons of God” is said to refer to the men that came from the line of Seth. The “daughters of men” are believed to be the descendants of Cain. As we know, Cain is viewed as evil because he killed his brother. Cain’s son is an example of that evil as well because he also murdered a man. Moses, the most righteous of men at that time, came from the line of Seth. When the two lines (Seth’s and Cain’s bloodline) combined, it created an evil human race. Seth’s descendants were tainted by the influence of Cain’s descendants.
In our world, we are well aware that negativity can impact how we feel, think, and act. Unfortunately, negative information can be more powerful than positive information. As parents, we try to be diligent in monitoring the peers surrounding our children. Friendships have a major effect on the personal development of kids. Peer groups can have a positive influence on a child, such as academic and athletic motivation; however, they can also have negative influences, such a risky behavior and poor decision-making skills. Even as adults, negative bias can impact our decision-making ability by leading us to interpret negative events as more important than positive ones. It is important to surround yourself with positive people who have good morals and intentions. Surrounding yourself with good people can help you build a strong support system and improve your life. Making sure you have friends or loved ones who want to build you up and cheer you on will provide more contentment. Positive people can help you build a positive mindset and therefore, inspire you to live a more productive life.
Intention
Seek out people who have a positive outlook in life. Find activities that uplift and inspire you. Be mindful of your own thoughts and feelings to help reduce the impact of negative influences in your life. Meditate. Focus on breathing and positive thoughts. Practice gratitude. Pray.
