Daily Devotions
Genesis
"…Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life." Genesis 3:17
"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward." Psalm 127:3
Text: Genesis 5:1-32
LIFE WAS TOUGH
Many complain about their lot in life. Many imagine that people had it easier in the past. This is not necessarily true. In God’s original plan, His idea was to bless man (Cf. Genesis 1:28; 5:2).
Man chose to sin against God, and the original plan of blessing turned on its head and he would have to struggle and toil just to eke out a living! Indulging in sin always makes life much tougher!
If nothing else, man learned an important truth! Sin does not pay! Sin is an affront to God in more ways than one. Sin dishonours the Lord! Choosing to sin would only result in dire penalty! God, being holy cannot condone sin! He must judge sin. But in His compassion and mercy, He holds out hope to man if he would but repent from his sinful ways and choose to walk with God! Enoch had that special faith that pleased God, and he was specially blessed indeed! There is no reason why all should not have the same faith! The question is one of choice. One either chooses the path of righteousness or the path of sin! That same choice must be made by man even today!
COMFORT AND HOPE
How did man cope because of the harshness of life? Why did he not give up in despair? The answer, mercifully, lies in God’s original plan. He gave to Adam a wife so that he may have a helper and companion who would help him bear the burdens of life! In the event that they had children, they would find comfort and hope in their children. Their offspring would offset the harsh realities of life. A good example may be found in the following text.
“Lamech lived one hundred and eighty-two years, and had a son.
And he called his name Noah, saying, ‘This one will comfort us
concerning our work and the toil of our hands, because of
the ground which the Lord has cursed.”GENESIS 5:28-29
1. An honest admission
Lamech obviously knew about the cursing of the ground. Knowledge of the fall from grace of Adam and Eve was common understanding. There was no bitterness in his statement, only a deep sigh, as he grappled with his tough lot in life.
2. A grateful heart
There were other “sons and daughters” (Cf. Genesis 5:30), but there was one son that brought special encouragement to the heart. Noah brought special comfort to the heart of the hard-working Lamech at the end of each laborious day. He found his strength renewed when he returned home from work each day. His family, and especially his son Noah, somehow brought a special sense of much-needed comfort and hope.