By Divine Plan

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

THE DIVINE PLAN

Gen 4:19-26

19 Lamech married two women, 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 the harp and flute. 22 Zillah also had a son, Tubal-Cain, who forged all kinds of tools out of 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 a man for wounding me, a young man for injuring me. 24 If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times."

25 Adam lay with his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, "God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him." 26 Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. At that time men began to call on the name of the LORD.

NIV

This is a strange poem of sorts that Lamach tells his two wives. This is also the first record of polygamy, a practice against the natural order of God. In Fact, unless one man and one woman live in holy matrimony, any other arrangement or living condition is outside the natural order of God. This brings to mind that those called to serve as overseers must be the husband of one wife, which may preclude single men from being called to that position. However, back to the point. Lamech was the fourth generation from Cain, and because Cain was protected by the mark of God against being killed, Lamech wanted his wives to be assured they had nothing to fear from revenge against the descendants of Cain. But the important part of this narrative goes back to Adam and Eve and the birth of Seth, and at that time, men began to call on the name of the LORD. We know that Seth was to be Adam's son by divine design. Seth fathered Enosh, who became the father of Kenan, who became the father of Mahalalee, who became the father of Jared, who became the father of Enoch, who became the father of Methuselah, who became the father of Lamech (the second), who became the father of Noah. All this is by divine order: Noah was in the line of Seth, the only line that survived the flood, meaning God knew from the beginning that Jesus would come through that line. We come right back to God's perfect plan. This should give us cause to put our complete uninhibited trust in the plan of God for our lives, as we continue to call upon the name of the Lord.