Genesis Part 1 - Week 10

Day 1 

READ 

Genesis 4:13-16 

13 Cain replied to the Lord, “My punishment is too great for me to bear! 14 You have banished me from the land and from your presence; you have made me a homeless wanderer. Anyone who finds me will kill me!” 15 The Lord replied, “No, for I will give a sevenfold punishment to anyone who kills you.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain to warn anyone who might try to kill him. 16 So Cain left the Lord’s presence and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden. 

Cain’s punishment came because of his sin. Now he feared that those who find him would kill him. This isn’t the way he thought before he killed his brother. The Lord promised to greatly punish anyone who killed Cain. The Lord put a mark on him but the Bible does not record what that mark was. The text says, “So Cain left the Lord’s presence.” He left where the Lord dealt with him but there is no way anyone can leave the presence of an omnipresent God. 

REFLECT 

Do you realize you can never get out of God’s presence? 

RESPOND 

Talk about this with a person you are trying to help better understand the Bible. Read Psalm 139:7-12 to read that one can never escape God’s presence. Read also Matthew 28:18-20 about Jesus’commands and His promise.  

Day 2 

READ 

Genesis 4:17-18 

17 Cain had sexual relations with his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Then Cain founded a city, which he named Enoch, after his son. 18 Enoch had a son named Irad. Irad became the father of Mehujael. Mehujael became the father of Methushael. Methushael became the father of Lamech. 

These verses tell us that Cain had a child named Enoch. Cain founded a city, the first such mentioned in the Bible. Cain named the city after his son. This passage also tells of the descendants of Enoch and other descendants. Of these descendants, only the name of Lamech occurs later in the Bible. It must be remembered that when the Bible uses the name “father” it often refers to “ancestor.” Also the word “son” often means “descendant.”  

REFLECT 

Do not be bothered about being unable to pronounce the names in many of the genealogies. See what the names are when reading alone and don’t try to pronounce them. You will be helped if you hear others, such as your pastor, pronounce them.  

RESPOND 

Jesus was often referred to as “the Son of David” in the New Testament. This means He was a descendant of David who was born in the tribe of Judah.  

Day 3 

READ 

Genesis 4:19-22 

19 Lamech married two women. The first was named Adah, and the second was Zillah. 20 Adah gave birth to Jabal, who was the first of those who raise livestock and live in tents. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal, the first of all who play the harp and flute. 22 Lamech’s other wife, Zillah, gave birth to a son named Tubal-cain. He became an expert in forging tools of bronze and iron. Tubal-cain had a sister named Naamah. 

This is the first mention of polygamy in the Bible: “Lamech married two women.” Their names were Adah and Zillah. Adah’s son was “the first of those who raise livestock and live in tents.” His brother was “the first of all who play the harp and flute.” Notice how the name “cain” is attached to the son of Zillah. He became “an expert in forging tools of bronze and iron.”  

REFLECT 

Did you realize these various occupations were stated early in the Bible’s history? 

RESPOND 

Joshua 8:31 indicates no tools were to be used in shaping the stones for the altar for worship. 

Day 4 

READ 

Genesis 4:23-24 

23 One day Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; listen to me, you wives of Lamech. I have killed a man who attacked me, a young man who wounded me. 24 If someone who kills Cain is punished seven times, then the one who kills me will be punished seventy-seven times!” 

Lamech thought those who would kill him for killing a young man should be punished seventy-seven times. This would be in contrast to Cain whose killers were only to be punished seven times. No reason is given for his arrogant statement, but he realized there would be those seeking to kill him for taking the life of another person. Later specific commands will be given regarding those who take the life of another person. 

REFLECT 

As you think of Lamech’s comments, do you wonder why he thought his life was worth so much more than Cain’s? 

RESPOND 

In thinking of a life being worthy, notice Paul’s prayer for Christ-followers to be worthy of His calling in 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12. Visit with a friend about being worthy in this sense. 

Day 5 

READ 

Genesis 4:25-26 

25 Adam had sexual relations with his wife again, and she gave birth to another son. She named him Seth, for she said, “God has granted me another son in place of Abel, whom Cain killed.” 26 When Seth grew up, he had a son and named him Enosh. At that time people first began to worship the Lord by name. 

Cain and Abel knew they should sacrifice to God, but now “people began to worship the Lord by name.” That name was Yahweh (Jehovah). Some believe this was a time when people organized and identified themselves as worshipers of Jehovah by name. This occurred many years after Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden.  

REFLECT 

For those who think Islam and Christians worship the same God, this verse reveals the name of the God Christians worship. There is no comparison.  

RESPOND 

As mentioned before, there could have been many more people born during this time, but the few mentioned were singled out to tell the story of salvation. This also prepares the reader for what develops later.