Friends:  I just had to pass this on to you.  This is more from my friend and pastor David Niednagel from his study in Genesis.  David has been my pastor for 45 years.  His faithfulness and life-long dedication to the study of God’s word has been a light and a guide to me through these 45 years.   David uses the S.O.A.P method in his morning devotional time.  Study, Observe, Apply, Pray.  If you are looking for a help-method for your daily study time that will help you maximize your fellowship and growth in your relationship with God….try the S.O.A.P method.   😊    

3-28-19  Gen 4:25-5:32  The name of the LORD, Yahweh

Gen. 4:25  And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” ²⁶ To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord.

5:1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. ² Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man when they were created. ³ When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. ⁴ The days of Adam after he fathered Seth were 800 years; and he had other sons and daughters. ⁵ Thus all the days that Adam lived were 930 years, and he died. …

⁸ Thus all the days of Seth were 912 years, and he died. …

¹¹ Thus all the days of Enosh were 905 years, and he died. …

:14 all the days of Kenan were 910 years, and he died. …

:17 all the days of Mahalalel were 895 years, and he died. …

:20 all the days of Jared were 962 years, and he died. …

:23 all the days of Enoch were 365 years. ²⁴ Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him. …

:27 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. … 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.   ESV

In the days of Enosh (About 400 years after Creation) people began to call on the name of the LORD – not just the generic word “god”, a higher power, but by His personal name – Yahweh. His name comes from the verb “to be” – the God who really IS, the Real One. Our English translations normally use the word LORD, instead of Yahweh, and that is unfortunate, because we normally skip right over the fact that He has revealed Himself as our covenant keeping Creator.

Ch 5 lists the descendants from Adam to Noah, all of whom lived from about 770 to 970 years. Because that is so much longer than we live today, most people wonder how that could be, and even the NIV Study Bible doubts those ages are accurate. But just like in Ch 1, Moses goes out of his way to tell how old each one was when his first child was born and how many years he lived after that, and then carefully gives the correct answer to adding the numbers. He intended the readers to believe those ages! There was nothing figurative or symbolic about them. So to try to figure out how they lived so long then, but also account for the ages declining after the Flood, some have supposed it was environmental conditions that made the difference. I have taught that, and it may be true, but I no longer think that was the main factor.

With what we now know about genetics, it makes more sense to see that a “genetic bottleneck” came from all future humans coming from the three sons of Noah. Dr John Sanford, is his book “Genetic Entropy” presents the details that make the most sense to me.

LORD, Yahweh, Thank You that You have revealed Yourself, not just as a “higher power” but as our Creator who has given us a Bible we can trust, and who has made a covenant with human beings. You know us individually, and provided the LORD Jesus as a Savior and King. And You give us Life, not just physically, but the capacity to be in relationship with You, our Creator and Savior. Thank You for the good years You have given Judy and me! Help us live our remaining days for You and for Your glory and enjoying You! I don’t want to waste any of the days You have ordained for me. May I fulfill Your purpose for my life. Amen.