Sheep or Goat, You Choose

Well here we are in the last two verses of Genesis chapter 4. Verses 1-24 has dealt with Cain and his descendants. Now the narrative turns back to Adam and Eve and their new son Seth and his son Enosh. What is important to see here is that they called on the name of the LORD, and so reinforces the idea of the two different lines – those who call on God and those who do not.

Gen 4:25-26

25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, "For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed." 26 And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on the name of the LORD.

1. This passage completes the account of Adam's family.

From now on, we generally meet with two parallel lines of narrative, as the human family is divided into two great branches, with opposing interests and tendencies. The main line, Seth's line; refers to those who are on terms of open reconciliation with God; while the other line is followed as far as necessary to show the state of those who have departed from the knowledge and love of the true God.

This is the first mention of Adam in this chapter. No question, the murder of Abel, and the stubbornness and apostasy of Cain, were a very great grief to him and Eve, and all the more because their own sin. Their folly had brought sin and death into the world; and now they felt the sting of it, being deprived of both their sons in one day. God let them re-build their family, which was painfully shaken and weakened by that sad event.

2. Seth (Shet).

The divine narrative has preserved the name Seth as that of the third son in Adam's line. The Hebrew word shows marked similarity to the word (shat), translated "appointed" or "set." In reality, Seth became the one on whom God could depend as the foundation stone for His family. He was "set" or "appointed" to take up the work and mission of Abel. Cain had forfeited his right to carry forward God's sublime hope. Seth would take the burden and the privilege upon his shoulders. Through his line God would perfect His promises.

It should not be forgotten that under the encouragement of Enosh (or Enos), people began to call upon the name of Jehovah, the covenant God. Enosh, who was prominent in the line of Seth, was the originator of public prayer and spiritual worship. In it, the indescribable name of the eternal God was used. There was hope for a better day through Seth's descendants.

Enosh ventures to express the desires and feelings that He has for God. These petitions and confessions are made in an audible voice, and with a holy urgency and courage rising above the depressing sense of self-abasement to the confidence of peace and gratitude. These adorations are also presented in a social capacity, and thereby acquired public notice. The father, the older of the house, is the master of words, and he becomes the spokesman of this new relationship into which they have spontaneously entered with their Father in heaven. The spirit of adoption has prompted the confiding and endearing terms, "Abba, Father," and now prayers travel to heaven, conveying the adorations and aspirations of those assembled. The new form of worship attracted the attention of the early world, and the record is made, "Then began they to call upon the name of the Lord," that keeps covenant and mercy.

It seems that man has passed beyond its infancy spiritually. They have learned to speak with God in the language of faith, of conscious acceptance, of freedom, of hope, and of love. This is a far nobler attainment than the invention of all the arts of life. It is the return of the the conscious sinner back to the holiness of God.

It is the drawing of divine mercy and love upon the penitent soul, which has found the courage to return to the merciful Yahweh, and speak to Him about repentance, of confession, and of gratitude. These believers are of the line of Sheth, again who began to be distinguished as the followers of the LORD; whereas others at the same time (Cain's line) had forgotten the Lord, and renounced even the form of reverence for Him.

One God and two lines – those who worship Him and those who do not:

Matthew 25:31-34

31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.