It's January so I started reading at the beginning of my One Year Bible again, and this time I was struck by the contrast between these two brothers: Seth and Cain. It seems like right there in Genesis 4 began the split in the world between true religion and trust in God, versus humanism and trust in oneself. Both men had a son whose names provide clues to the motives and attitudes of the brother's hearts.
Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. At that time men began to call on the name of the Lord. Genesis 4:26
Enosh is another word for "man," but it includes the meaning of soft and delicate, or as the commentary below says, weak and frail. It seems to me that Seth was admitting the frailty and sinfulness of human beings and was calling on the name of the Lord for help, thereby putting his trust in God. In the meantime ...
Cain made love to his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was then building a city, and he named it after his son Enoch. Genesis 4:17
Enoch means dedicate. Cain built a city – he was the architect of the city – and he dedicated it to his son, his line, essentially to himself. It does not say that Cain and his line called on the name of the Lord. I thought this was a good commentary on these verses:
"Genesis 4:26. And to Seth was born a son called Enos, which is the general name for all men, and speaks the weakness, frailty, and misery of man's state. Then began men to call upon the name of the Lord — Doubtless God's name was called upon before: but now, 1st, The worshippers of God began to do more in religion than they had done; perhaps not more than had been done at first, but more than had been done since the defection of Cain. Now men began to worship God, not only in their closets and families, but in public and solemn assemblies. 2nd, The worshippers of God began to distinguish themselves: so the margin reads it. Then began men to be called by the name of the Lord — or, to call themselves by it. Now Cain and those that had deserted religion had built a city, and begun to declare for irreligion, and called themselves the sons of men. Those that adhered to God began to declare for him and his worship, and called themselves the sons of God." -- Benson Commentary (emphasis mine)
It is worth noting that when confronted by God about murdering his brother, Cain never actually repented, but rather asked for God's protection, and then it says he "went out from the Lord's presence." Cain and his line lived away from the Lord's presence and trusted in themselves. Genesis lists primarily what they accomplished – raising livestock, playing the harp and flute, and forging all kinds of tools. But Seth and his sons clung to God and called on his Name. One of Seth's decedents was another man named Enoch who "walked" or was conversant with God and another was Abram, or Abraham, who also called on the Name of the Lord.
So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev ... From the Negev he went from place to place until he came to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the Lord. Genesis 13:1, 3-4
Hebrews 11 says about Abraham that he was not looking to build himself a city for his own name and glory, but rather he was looking for another city. He was looking forward to the Holy City to come, where we will dwell with God forever.
By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. Hebrews 11:9-10
Then I saw "a new heaven and a new earth," for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God." Revelation 21:1-3
Lord, let me put my total trust in you. May I always call on the Name of the Lord. Let me not trust in my accomplishments or abilities. Let me not build my own city for my glory, but always be a stranger and foreigner here on this earth looking forward to the City you have built, where I will dwell with you forever.
For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13 (quoting Joel 2:32)
What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. Psalm 116:12-13
Hear my prayer, LORD, listen to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping. I dwell with you as a foreigner, a stranger, as all my ancestors were. Psalm 39:12
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1
Jesus replied, "Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."
"Follow me." Luke 9:58, 59
Photo by seir+seir, Auguste Perret, architect: 25 Bis Rue Franklin apartment building, Paris 1903-1904, https://flic.kr/p/bn7CV1
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