The Barbarians are Here by Michael Youssef

Author:Michael Youssef
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Worthy Publishing
Published: 2017-03-20T16:00:00+00:00

FROM CAIN TO LAMECH

So far in this book we have been tracing the biblical account of the two contrasting humanities that formed two cities—the City of God and the City of Man. In chapter 6 we saw how Cain tried to make his own religion, offering a sacrifice to God according to his own will instead of the will of God. After God rejected Cain’s offering and accepted the offering of his brother Abel, Cain murdered Abel—then he fled from the presence of God to build his own city, the first City of Man.

Continuing that narrative, we find that rebellious Cain was the father of a line of descendants. In the sixth generation from Cain, we meet Cain’s descendant Lamech. In just a few sentences, the Word of God defines Lamech as a violent, rebellious, and self-centered man. Genesis 4:19 tells us that he married two women and became the first known polygamist in history. In verses 23–24, Scripture records Lamech’s “Song of the Sword”:

Lamech said to his wives,

“Adah and Zillah, listen to me;

wives of Lamech, hear my words.

I have killed a man for wounding me,

a young man for injuring me.

If Cain is avenged seven times,

then Lamech seventy-seven times.”

In other words, Lamech was boasting to his wives of his violent and vengeful temper. In the original language, it is clear that Lamech was saying that a man struck him with his fist, and Lamech responded by running him through with the sword. He boasted that if anyone injured him in any way, he would repay that injury seventy-seven times over.

That is the bitter, vengeful, and violent mind-set of the City of Man. That is the legacy of Lamech’s murderous ancestor, Cain.

But there is another man descended from Adam who represents the City of God. His name is Enoch. After Cain killed Abel and ran away, Adam and Eve had another son. His name was Seth, and Enoch was his descendant, born six generations from Seth. Enoch was as godly as Lamech was ungodly. Enoch illustrates the contrast between those who belong to the City of God and those who belong to the City of Man.

Enoch personifies the City of God. The book of Genesis tells us something truly amazing about Enoch: “Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away” (Genesis 5:23–24). Does that really mean what it seems to mean? Did Enoch live such a godly life that he didn’t have to pass through physical death but was instead translated straight into heaven? Yes.

Hebrews 11:5 tells us, “By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: ‘He could not be found, because God had taken him away.’ For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.”

From Cain’s rebellious offspring came Lamech—a violent, vengeful, self-willed man. From Seth’s godly line came Enoch—a faithful believer who was spared the experience of death. Lamech was of the offspring of the serpent.

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