Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. – Luke 24:27
We continue our quest to discover Jesus in all the Scriptures. Today, we will look We continue our quest to discover Jesus in all the Pentateuch. In this chapter we will start by looking at the genealogy from Adam to Abraham. Let’s head back to our dig site in Genesis, chapter five. There is excessive debris here due to neglect.
Adam to Abraham
Because of Adam’s long life, he could easily have talked with his descendants all the way to Noah’s father, Lamech. Noah’s son, Shem and Noah’s grandson, Eber, both outlived all their descendants, after the flood, and were alive during a part of Abraham’s life.
In the patriarchal society of that day, it is no wonder that the Israelites were also known as ‘Semites’ (after Shem) or ‘Hebrews’ (after Eber). Yes, they are called Hebrews after the name of Adam’s grandson.
Now, because of the patriarchs’ long lifespans, there are only two gaps from Adam to Abraham. Both gaps could be filled by Noah’s father, Lamech and Noah’s son, Shem. This would provide a lineage with every generation overlapping with the next, providing an unbroken chain of living history!
God’s Word is cohesive no matter how He chose to do it, but a continuity in His message through successive generations is very realistic. And, of course, the Holy Spirit provides inspiration and guidance. God did the same thing in the New Testament with the Apostles and especially the Apostle John.
Where’s Jesus? He’s standing with Enoch.
In Hebrews 11:5 we read, “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God translated him.” Here is what is so marvelous, both in Genesis 5:24 and Hebrews 11:5 we find, for the very first time, that there is something more for people besides being born, having kids, and dying.
With Enoch, God draws back the curtain a bit and we discover that there’s SOMEPLACE else for us beyond dust. Enoch was not found because God “translated” him. The word “translate” can mean “to transfer” (Strong’s Greek 3346). God moved him from the earth to someplace else. This is the first time God has allowed us in on this truth.
Notice that the Holy Spirit led Paul to use a similar word in Philippians 3:20-21: “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” We will be “transformed,” moved from earth to someplace else.
So, there’s Jesus, right in the middle of Genesis, chapter 5. Enoch experienced what we will experience if Christ calls us up during our lifetime.
Tomorrow
Next time we will take a look at Noah and then jump to Abraham. It is going to take us a few more days to work our way through Genesis.
Photo by Ryan Cheng on Unsplash
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https://rockexcavationservice.org/2020/02/13/a-returned-man/
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