1This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. 2Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man when they were created. 3When 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. 5Thus all the days that Adam lived were 930 years, and he died.
6When Seth had lived 105 years, he fathered Enosh. 7Seth lived after he fathered Enosh 807 years and had other sons and daughters. 8Thus all the days of Seth were 912 years, and he died.
9When Enosh had lived 90 years, he fathered Kenan. 10Enosh lived after he fathered Kenan 815 years and had other sons and daughters. 11Thus all the days of Enosh were 905 years, and he died.
The major point belaboured in Genesis 5 is that God’s promise to Adam is being fulfilled – that eating the fruit would produce death. “And he died” is repeated eight times in this brief chapter.
We may marvel that people lived such long lives in the first generations after the fall, but we are strongly reminded that no matter the length of years, we all die. We are meant to make the connection to the effects of disobedience promised in the garden.
The age of those listed in this chapter seems incredulous to many people and a testimony that the Scriptures are not true. There are several reasons why people lived to be so old so long ago and their ages is hardly a reason to doubt the truthfulness of the Scriptures.
It is a striking thing that we have become so accustomed to a much shorter life span that we cannot believe that at one time people lived to be much older. We are so accustomed to death that we doubt life. This reflects a spiritual truth about us. Spiritually, we are so accustomed to darkness that we do not want light; so accustomed to slavery that we think we are free; so accustomed to death that we think we are alive. This is where grace triumphs. It smashes in on people’s natural inclinations and shows them just how wrong they have been and just how glorious Christ is and the Gospel that He brings.
The words from the Charles Wesley hymn are true.
Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray-
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
Physical death is a reminder to us of the results of the fall and the spiritual death that accompanies it. But it cannot effect the triumph of Christ over it.
Today, if you are a believer, thank God that no matter how long your life is, you have eternal life because of Jesus Christ and your faith in Him.
If you do not know Christ, know that the eternal consequences of Adam and Eve’s sin are still yours. Only Christ can take you out from under the just punishment of God for your sin. And He will. Trust Christ and know life