Genesis 4: 25-26, calling upon on the name of the Lord

Genesis 4:25-26, Calling Upon The Name Of The Lord

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Welcome back to our study of Genesis, we’ll close chapter 4 today as we zero in on verses 25 and 26. In our last study, we talked about Cain and his descendants and how they lived lives that were diametrically opposed to the things of GOD- they walked in absolute darkness. It might be tempting to think that material wealth and prosperity is a sign of being favored by God, but this was not the case for Cain’s descendants. In fact, because he chose to depart from the presence of the Lord due to his lack of repentance, he was now under a curse. Verses 16-24 paint a very bleak picture of what life looks like without God. Thankfully, though, verses 25-26 remind us that there is always hope and faith in God as He always has a remnant.

The Passage

25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed[g] 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.

The Significance Of Seth’s Name

Verse 25 gives us a small window into Adam and Eve ‘s hearts post Abel ‘s death. There is no doubt in my mind that Eve felt the pain of this death as she expresses her sorrows following the birth of Seth. The name of Seth means ‘because Cain killed Abel, God has assigned me with a new child in his place’. Her love of God had not changed even in the midst of her pain. She did not blame God for the death of Abel. But she actually was grateful to God for giving her the opportunity to give birth again. And I do believe that Eve’s naming of Seth wasn’t done in a vacuum , it was a prophetic name prompted by the Spirit of God because the verses that follow ( chapter 5 included) will show us the Godly spiritual make up of Seth.

People Began To Call On The Name Of The Lord

In verse 26, we learn that Seth also had a son named Enosh. And the verse ends with a very interesting remark — then people began to call upon the name of the Lord.
I want you to see the difference between the lineage of Cain and that of Seth. The contrast is so clear. There is no mention of people calling upon the name of the Lord on Cain ‘s side; in fact, Lamech, the 7th of Adam through Cain was the epitome of hatred of God. His arrogance was the antithesis of what it meant to invoke the name of the Lord. He exemplified self sufficiency. And all of this is the outcome of Cain’s expulsion from the Lord’s presence due to His lack of repentance.
On the other hand, Seth fathered Enosh, and you’ll notice that nothing about his descendants’ occupations and skill sets is revealed. It doesn’t mean that Seth and his descendants didn’t do anything for a living  but what this demonstrates  is that their focus was not merely on earthly things but on calling upon the name of the LORD.
PS: Adam having relations with Eve doesn’t mean that this happened immediately after Abel’s death. We’ll learn in Chapter 5 that they had many more children but Seth’s birth was set apart for a specific purpose. Out of him came a generation that began to call upon on the name of the Lord. It is every possible that all their other children were not interested in the things of God which should teach us a thing or two about the grace of God. Being born in the same family from the same father and mother doesn’t automatically mean that we are guaranteed to be spiritual brothers. This was pretty evident in the account of cain and Abel. Abel was of the Lord while Cain was of the evil one. Seth was of the Lord , so was his son Enosh while Cain and his descendants were removed from the presence of the Lord.

What Can We Learn From Genesis 4:25-26?

  1. I’d say that in our day and age, names have been so trivialized that they carry no weight. Whose image in on you? If  your desire is for you and your family to bear the name of God then their names will reflect His goodness. Before you choose a name for anyone in your family if given an opportunity, it would be wise to consult the LORD first and ask him for a name that will reflect the character of GOD as Eve did.
  2. Where is your focus? Cain and his descendants were known for their profession and skills set , what about you and I? What legacy are you going to leave? Are you more interested in making a name for yourself or would you be like John the Baptist, who said – HE ( JESUS) must increase and I must decrease. We’ve been commanded to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, in other words our legacy should be that of glorifying GOD. When people remember you, they should automatically evoke the name of GOD. That ought to be our aim in life.
  3. Have you been set apart to be used by GOD? How does that look from a practical standpoint? How much time do you spend in God’s presence, studying His word, allowing the Spirit of GOD to convict you and lead you to repentance?