CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD

Passage: Genesis 4:16-26

Key verse: 26b

NIV

16 So Cain went out from the Lord’s presence(A) and lived in the land of Nod,[a] east of Eden.(B)

17 Cain made love to his wife,(C) and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was then building a city,(D) and he named it after his son(E) Enoch. 18 To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael was the father of Methushael, and Methushael was the father of Lamech.

19 Lamech married(F) two women,(G) one named Adah and the other Zillah. 20 Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play stringed instruments(H) and pipes.(I) 22 Zillah also had a son, Tubal-Cain, who forged(J) all kinds of tools out of[b] bronze and iron. Tubal-Cain’s sister was Naamah.

23 Lamech said to his wives,

“Adah and Zillah, listen to me;
    wives of Lamech, hear my words.
I have killed(K) a man for wounding me,
    a young man for injuring me.
24 If Cain is avenged(L) seven times,(M)
    then Lamech seventy-seven times.(N)”

25 Adam made love to his wife(O) again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth,[c](P) saying, “God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.”(Q) 26 Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh.(R)

At that time people began to call on[d] the name of the Lord.(S)

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. Genesis 4:16 Nod means wandering (see verses 12 and 14).
  2. Genesis 4:22 Or who instructed all who work in
  3. Genesis 4:25 Seth probably means granted.
  4. Genesis 4:26 Or to proclaim
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

16 Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod,[a] east of Eden.

17 Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch. 18 To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. 19 And Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. 20 Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 21 His brother's name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. 22 Zillah also bore Tubal-cain; he was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.

23 Lamech said to his wives:

“Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;
    you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say:
I have killed a man for wounding me,
    a young man for striking me.
24 (A)If Cain's revenge is sevenfold,
    then Lamech's is seventy-sevenfold.”

25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed[b] for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” 26 To (B)Seth also a son was born, and he called his name (C)Enosh. At that time people began (D)to call upon the name of the Lord.

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. Genesis 4:16 Nod means wandering
  2. Genesis 4:25 Seth sounds like the Hebrew for he appointed
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Cain left the LORD’s presence. He married and had a son and built a city. His descendants became farmers, musicians, and tool makers. Although this seems successful and productive, we see that sin continued to reign in Cain’s bloodline through polygamy, murder, and violence. Without God in our lives—no matter what we do, have, or achieve—sin will remain.

Amid a growing culture of godlessness, God granted Adam and Eve another son, and they named him Seth. In turn, Seth had a son and named him Enosh, which means, “mortal, human, and weak.” During this time, people began to call on the name of the LORD.

We are living in a culture of increased and growing godlessness. How do we respond? Like the people in Enoch’s time, we can be those who call on the name of the Lord out of our desperate need for him.

Prayer: Lord, as humans we can do so much apart from You, but we confess that we are in need of You. We are living in desperate times where many live apart from You. Make us a people who will call upon Your name.

One Word: Call upon the name of the Lord