Subscription Lists
Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
Is it not highly significant that as man moved away from relying and depending upon God, that God is deeply concerned that we have a description of how all this happened? This is nothing other that a demonstration and revelation of the love of God – and it is He Who takes the initiative. He always does.
That is why He sent His Son to be our Saviour.
We are in Genesis Chapter 4 and we come to verse 19. Man moved further away from God's order as Lamech married two women - he took two wives.
In verse 23, he sings the praises of killing, and boasts of his own power and strength.
This has continued, until today we boast of the numbers of weapons we have for mass killing.
If anyone had slain Cain he would have to suffer sevenfold – verse 15. God had said that. Lamech boasts that anyone touches him, then the person who touches him shall suffer seventy times seven.
Do you see how civilisation and society is developing apart from God?
This is the real problem we face today. Our problems are moral and spiritual. Economic and moral corruption arises because of spiritual wandering and disobedience to God.
The only answer - the only solution - is Jesus Christ.
As problems were increasing, God moved in a sovereign way and graciously acted.
Another boy is born - SETH - his name means "appointed" - and he is born to replace Abel - and he is an ancestor of Jesus. From this line, men begin to call upon the name of the Lord. A new line is introduced - away back here, there is a new merciful beginning. Men begin to pray again, and cry out to the Lord for mercy.
When we move into Chapter 5, we read that the line now moves on through SETH and not Cain.
That is what is vital today - to be saved - rescued - by Seth's descendent, Jesus Christ - and not chained and bound by Cain's sin.
There are two lines - Lamech was the seventh in his line and walked away from God's order. Now - see the contrast in Seth's line - and particularly the seventh in line - Enoch.
Enoch walked with God - not far away from Cain and Lamech - but with God.
He continued to walk with God, and he never stopped walking with God, and one day God just took him. He walked so closely with his God that one day he walked right into the eternal presence of the Creator.
Walking means - step by step - in a forward direction.
Growing - moving forward with Jesus Christ - making progress - slowly but surely -developing as a disciple of Jesus Christ - increasing in faith and obedience as the years go by. Can we see ourselves in this passage?
Enoch was the father of Methuselah - and Enoch was a man of insight.
As he communed with the living God, the living God communed with him - because when his son was born he called him Methuselah - which means - "when he dies it shall be sent" - amazing meaning! What? What shall be sent? The Flood!
Let me give you this information - when Noah was born Methuselah was 369 - when Noah was 600 the Flood came – Chapter 7 verse 6. And this word tells us that Methuselah was 969 when he died. When he died Enoch's prophetic word was fulfilled - it came true. "When he dies it shall be sent". Even the Maths are authentic and authoritative!
You have to be very clever to argue against the accuracy and details of this book!
God told Enoch - this world will last as long as your boy lives. No wonder Enoch kept walking with God - right in the centre of the Will of God. He realised what would happen when his son died and Enoch wanted to be ready.
Now we do not need to remember all the arithmetic - but even the sums produce the correct answers.
What we do need to know are the principles - to build our lives upon Jesus Christ and His Word - and to belong to Seth's line and not Cain's.
Turn again to Luke 3 - Noah - Lamech - Methuselah - and Seth - no mention of Cain.
There are two lines today - those who belong to Jesus Christ, and those who don't.
Make sure you belong to Jesus Christ - know that - be absolutely certain. The dividing line is blood - those who shed blood -and those who are saved by the shed blood.
“Gracious God, we thank You that Your Word is so accurate in every aspect of life. We thank You that we have this revelation – these explanations and answers to the various questions which can arise. We worship You and praise You, in the Name of the risen and living Lord Jesus Christ.” Amen.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
Receive the newest devotional each week in your inbox by joining the "Word from Scotland" subscription list. Enter your email address below, click "Go!" and we will send you a confirmation email. Follow the instructions in the email to confirm your addition to this list.