The deeper meaning behind Genesis 5

On the surface this is straightforward, but as you go through different seasons in life, the meaning changes to perfectly fit that season. If you are fighting an addiction, it means the Lord will give you strength to conquer it. If you are in spiritual battles, it means you will prevail through Him. Call out to Him, then He will fight for you.

So this brings me back to the genealogies in the Bible that I once dismissed, Genesis 5. The shortened version of Genesis 5:
This is the written account of the descendants of Adam. When God created human beings, He made them to be like Himself. He created them male and female, and He blessed them and called them “human.”

• When Adam was 130 years old, he became the father of Seth.
• When Seth was 105 years old, he became the father of Enosh.
• When Enosh was 90 years old, he became the father of Kenan.
• When Kenan was 70 years old, he became the father of Mahalalel.
• When Mahalalel was 65 years old, he became the father of Jared.
• When Jared was 162 years old, he became the father of Enoch.
• When Enoch was 65 years old, he became the father of Methuselah.
• When Methuselah was 187 years old, he became the father of Lamech.
• When Lamech was 182 years old, he became the father of Noah
• After Noah was 500 years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

I heard a teaching that illuminated the meaning behind the names in Genesis 5, the lineage from Adam to Noah. In Hebrew, the original language of the Bible, the names have special significance:

• Adam means “man”
• Seth means “appointed”
• Enosh means “mortal”
• Kenan means “sorrow”
• Mahalalel means “the Blessed God”
• Jared means “shall come down”
• Enoch means “teaching”
• Methuselah means “his death shall bring”
• Lamech means “the despairing”
• Noah means “rest” or “comfort”

Together, the names form this sentence:
“Man is appointed mortal sorrow; but the Blessed God shall come down teaching that His death shall bring the despairing rest.”
Wow! My mind was blown when I heard this. The names point ahead to Jesus coming into the world as our Savior. Truly everything in Scripture points to Him. I’m sure there are also meanings in the years mentioned, though I don’t yet have the knowledge of them. I am still learning and growing in my knowledge and faith, on this journey with you. 

The Bible is an endless treasure of wisdom if we take the time to dig deeper, and I promise you the Holy Spirit will open up the knowledge to you, if you are willing and you ask Him to open it up to you.

PS: If you heard a teaching that explains the meaning behind the years, please share it with us.