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.” Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. At that time men began to call on the name of the LORD. Genesis 4:25-26 (NIV)
The adversary and all his followers thought he had defeated God. God’s creation had been permanently marred by disobedience. Eden had been defiled and permanently closed. The first family had been destroyed by the tragedy of Cain’s rebellion. No one would have blamed God if He had destroyed what was left and started over, but God had a plan that could not be thwarted by His enemy.
After much grief and sorrow over Abel’s death and Cain’s departure, Adam and Eve got on with the divine directive of multiplying and replenishing the earth (Gen. 1:26-28). A baby boy was born. A new baby in the house always helps the family to lay tragedy and grief to rest. He was Seth the new seed. He was Seth the settled son.
Seth was the new seed from whom the family of faith would sprout and be perpetuated in the earth. While Cain and his descendants would wander the earth in unbelief, Seth’s descendants were fixed in faith and settled in the peace of God. While Cain’s family was banished from the face of the Lord, Seth’s family would always enjoy His presence. While Cain would always be a fugitive, Seth would always find refuge in God.
Cain’s defection from God produced the tragic effects of sin by the workings of natural conscience. Seth’s loyalty to God produced the marvelous effects of faith by the work of the Spirit on man’s nature. Adam and Eve probably never stopped calling on the name of the Lord, but Seth’s children re-established public worship and began calling themselves, the children of God.
Dear Father, thank you for your plan and purpose. Empower us to boldly proclaim ourselves as your children. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today as His child,