Genesis Part 1 - Week 12

Day 1 

READ 

Genesis 5:25-27 

25 When Methuselah was 187 years old, he became the father of Lamech. 26 After the birth of Lamech, Methuselah lived another 782 years, and he had other sons and daughters. 27 Methuselah lived 969 years, and then he died. 

These verses introduce you to Methuselah. At the end of the passage you see he died at 969 years. He was the oldest man ever recorded to have lived that long. In spite of how long he lived, he still met the same end as all others in that he died. One of the most important matters in life is to be prepared to die. 

REFLECT 

Is it not sobering to realize that all who have lived before you have died? No matter how long each lived, their lives were short as compared with eternity. 

RESPOND 

Rejoice with a friend about the life each of you has, but think about how short it is. Read verses such as Psalm 102:11; 103:15-16; 144:3-4. Use your life to count for Jesus each day as Colossians 3:23 tells how.  

Day 2 

READ 

Genesis 5:28-32 

28 When Lamech was 182 years old, he became the father of a son. 29 Lamech named his son Noah, for he said, “May he bring us relief from our work and the painful labor of farming this ground that the Lord has cursed.” 30 After the birth of Noah, Lamech lived another 595 years, and he had other sons and daughters. 31 Lamech lived 777 years, and then he died. 32 After Noah was 500 years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 

This brings the reader to Noah, who will be a central person in that which follows. It will tell his story and of the descendants of his sons Shem, Ham and Japheth. The long length of a person’s life will soon be reduced.  

REFLECT 

The biblical story of creation and the fall into sin will now be followed by telling about the worldwide flood. 

RESPOND 

Urge a friend to join with you in reading Genesis 6 as it leaves the genealogies of many who lived up to this time. The next three chapters are the account of the Genesis flood.  

Day 3 

READ 

Genesis 6:1-3 

1 Then the people began to multiply on the earth, and daughters were born to them. 2 The sons of God saw the beautiful women and took any they wanted as their wives. 3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not put up with humans for such a long time, for they are only mortal flesh. In the future, their normal lifespan will be no more than 120 years.” 

It is debated about who are the “sons of God.” Some believe this is an expression that refers to fallen angels taking on the form of men who married these wives. Others think it refers to the family lines of Cain and Seth. Jude 1:6 seems to refer to the angels that followed Satan and are now kept in a prison of darkness. The 120 years mentioned here seems best understood that mankind would have only 120 years before God would send the worldwide flood. Noah would preach during these years. 

REFLECT 

What would you think if God gave the world only 120 years before a cataclysmic judgment? No one really knows how much time we have left before Jesus returns in the air to catch up believers in Jesus. 

RESPOND 

About a fourth of the Bible contains prophecies including about the first coming and second coming of Jesus. Many of the prophecies will be fulfilled before He returns to earth as recorded in Revelation 19:11-16, but no prophecy must be fulfilled before He returns to catch up believers from the earth as mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Are you ready? 

Day 4 

READ 

Genesis 6:4 

4 In those days, and for some time after, giant Nephilites lived on the earth, for whenever the sons of God had intercourse with women, they gave birth to children who became the heroes and famous warriors of ancient times. 

Some believe these were physical giants. Others believe they were giants of fame. The point not to be lost is that mankind has become so wicked that God is about to judge the entire world with a universal flood.  

REFLECT 

As you see the immorality and degradation all around you today, can you imagine that it was ever worse? 

RESPOND 

Visit with a friend about the truth that although God is a God of love; He is also one of justice and judgment. Read Romans 1:24-32 that reveals the degradation of those who refuse to acknowledge God.  

Day 5 

READ 

Genesis 6:5-6 

5 The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. 6 So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart. 

From the human view, it seemed that God had changed His mind. God is the same, however. Hebrews 13:8 reveals Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. God blesses those who honor Him and withholds blessing from those who dishonor Him. As this translation says, however, man’s wickedness broke God’s heart.  

REFLECT 

Do you fear God in the sense that you have a reverential trust in Him? Those who do not have this kind of fear in God will experience His judgment as Hebrews 10:31 says.  

RESPOND 

Visit with a friend about the difference of breaking a law of God and breaking the heart of God. Serve Jesus out of a heart of love for all He has done for you, not trying to obey a list of rules to prove you are spiritual.