BSF Study Questions Genesis Lesson 6, Day 5: Genesis 5:25-32

Summary of passage:  Methuselah became the father of Lamech who was Noah’s father. Noah fathered Shem, Ham and Japheth.  All lived long lives.

Questions:

11)  Methuselah and he was 969 years old.

12)  God kept Seth’s descendants alive longer than others so they would have a chance to repent before he sent the flood (right after Methuselah died).  Also, Seth’s descendants lived right after the Fall.  God had intended man to live forever so because it was so close to the Fall, God kept man alive longer.

I would speculate God wanted the earth populated so he allowed man to live longer so he could procreate more.

Also, the atmosphere/environment was very different before the flood destroyed everything.  Think of the differences say in the times of Dinosaurs and Ice Ages.  The world was a different place.  Everything was teeming with life.  No pollutants or hazards in the environment.  Probably little illnesses and diseases as of yet.  Abundant food.  We don’t hear of starvation during this time.  Genetically, there probably wasn’t a lot of harmful mutations yet.  God is still very, very close to His people here–physically–so they lived longer.

As more and more generations passed, more and more turning from God entered the world.  Sin accumulated.  Thus, I would say God decided to shorten man’s life in accordance.  To lessen the evil we do to ourselves and in the world.

Ultimately, it’s God’s will and grace that determines how long we live.  The rest is just speculation.

Conclusions:  The only day I liked in this lesson.  It shows how everything is God’s will and is in His grace.  Perfect lesson for me today.

BSF Study Questions Genesis Lesson 6, Day 4: Genesis 5:18-24

Summary of passage:  Jared had Enoch and then he died.  Enoch had Methuselah.  Enoch walked with God and was taken up to heaven.

Questions:

8 )  Jude says Enoch prophesied.  Hebrews says he was commended as one who pleased God.  Genesis says Enoch walked with God.

9)  No.  He was taken up to heaven but did not experience a physical death.

10a)  Enoch was just taken up to heaven as those of us who are living in Christ (the faithful) shall be taken up to heaven when the Lord comes.

b)  We will all rise and be changed and given a new body.  The Lord will come down from heaven and with a loud command and trumpet call the dead in Christ will rise.  Then the living in Christ will rise and be with the Lord forever.

c)  Personal Question.  My answer:  Rising again to be with Christ forever.  Gives me hope.

Conclusions:  I’m REALLY not liking this lesson.  I just feel like BSF is spending way too much time on Genesis 5 and an obscure guy named Enoch.  Furthermore, we discussed all of this in Acts last year.  We read Hebrews, 1 Corinthians, and 1 Thessalonians and discussed Enoch as well.  I just don’t see his importance like BSF does.

Question 8 had no specifics.  We don’t know why Enoch was commended with God or how he exactly walked with God.  We just know he did something to be taken up to heaven by God.  I just don’t see how this applies to my life.

For me, I didn’t get anything out of this lesson and am ready to move on to Lesson 7.