GOOD GENES

Do you have good genes? In my day, Calvin Klein, Jordache, and Levi were always the standard – oh, wait. Genes. Like the genes passed down from my mom's mom (we called her Mom-Mom), who lived to be 101 years-old. That's her above, at her 100th birthday party, with my mom and dad, sister, brother and me. Genes - you don't get to shop for them, try them on for size. Genetics Home Reference Handbook says that genes are the basic physical and functional unit of heredity. They are made up of DNA and act as instructions to make molecules called proteins. Yawn. No quiz at the end, I promise. You know what I want to know about genes? Do my genes determine my lifespan? Are they at least an indicator of how long I should live? What external factors override our internal, hereditary trends? Stupidity could count as one external, overriding factor, I suppose. How many of us have at one point or another made an idiotic decision that will no doubt shorten our lifespan? Supernatural intervention is an external factor that overrides our hereditary trends – sometimes Satan destroys, sometimes God intervenes. Still, it’s fun to look at a family tree from beginning to, well – beginning – and notice some interesting facts…

Gen. 5:1-3 – “This is the written account of Adam’s line. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. He created them male and female and blessed them. And when they were created, he called them ‘man.’ When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth.”

• In our written account, our Bible, Adam’s line begins with Cain. In the ancient writings, “man” begins with Seth – the “do-over” kid, whose name meant “granted” – and he looked like his dad. What grace.

Gen. 5:4-8 – “After Seth was born, Adam lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Adam lived 930 years, and then he died. When Seth had lived 105 years, he became the father of Enosh. And after he became the father of Enosh, Seth lived 807 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Seth lived 912 years, and then he died” (emphasis added).

• Notice the long lifespan and the mention of not only multiple sons but also daughters in Seth’s lineage, emphasizing people and relationship. In Cain’s genealogy only one son was mentioned until Lamech’s dual marriage (4:19-22), and things and accomplishment were emphasized. (Unfortunately, we know that all humanity – except Noah – eventually became completely corrupt and violent. Even Seth’s line chose to turn away from the Name of the Lord.)

Gen. 5:9-24 – “When Enosh had lived 90 years, he became the father of Kenan…and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enosh lived 905 years, and then he died. When Kenan had lived 70 years, he became the father of Mahalalel…and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Kenan lived 910 years, and then he died. When Mahalalel had lived 65 years, he became the father of Jared…and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Mahalalel lived 895 years, and then he died. When Jared had lived 162 years, he became the father of Enoch…and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Jared lived 962 years, and then he died. When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah…and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years. Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away” (emphasis added).

• Please read the last sentence again. It’s easy to miss it. Enoch lived about 1/3 as long as his ancestors – but he walked with God for those years. Did he feel cheated by such a comparably short life? Did his family feel cheated? Notice, Scripture does not say Enoch died. A dear friend, who is a retired seminary professor, once said, “Perhaps Enoch and God were walking in the cool of the evening and God said, ‘Hey, Enoch, why don’t you just come home with me tonight?’” I love that. I want that kind of walk with God – the kind when I close my eyes in this world, God simply invites me to His house for eternity.

Gen. 5:25-32 – “When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he became the father of Lamech…and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Methuselah lived 969 years, and then he died. When Lamech had lived 182 years, he had a son. He named him Noah and said, ‘He will comfort us in the labor and painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the LORD has cursed.’…Lamech…had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Lamech lived 777 years, and then he died. After Noah was 500 years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham and Japheth” (emphasis added).

• Lamech fell prey to a common snare – looking to a human savior. Lamech looked to his son, Noah, for comfort. Others look to spouses, friends, co-workers, etc. to fill emotional, physical and spiritual needs. Let’s examine the other side of the proverbial coin. What did that kind of pressure do to Noah? He was 500 years-old before he had children, for heaven’s sake! But it was for heaven’s sake that he was ultimately refined and made righteous. Did he bring the comfort his father hoped for? See the “Sheep Going Deep” section to ponder the possibilities.

Lord, when someone disappoints me, help me to examine my heart – to determine if I have placed unholy hope on their shoulders. Teach me to treasure all the blessings You give in this lifetime, but at the same time, remembering there is only one Savior, one ultimate Hope.