Genesis 5:6-11: a reflection

6Seth lived one hundred five years, then became the father of Enosh. 7Seth lived after he became the father of Enosh eight hundred seven years, and became the father of other sons and daughters. 8All of the days of Seth were nine hundred twelve years, then he died. 9Enosh lived ninety years, and became the father of Kenan. 10Enosh lived after he became the father of Kenan eight hundred fifteen years, and became the father of other sons and daughters. 11All of the days of Enosh were nine hundred five years, then he died.

This is a genealogy, the kind of passage our eyes usually slide across: Seth lived, became the father of Enosh, lived more years, and died. Enosh lived, became the father of Kenan, lived more years, and died. Long lives, hundreds of years, and the same three words closing each one: and he died.

Sit with that refrain for a moment. However many years are counted, the sentence ends the same way. These men lived nearly a thousand years, far longer than we will, and still the drumbeat sounds: and he died. It is Scripture's plain, unsentimental way of telling the truth we spend most of our energy avoiding, that our days, however many, come to an end.

But notice the other thread running alongside the dying. Each one became the father of the next; the line does not stop. Seth to Enosh to Kenan, life handed on down the generations toward, eventually, a promised deliverer. The refrain is honest about death, but the genealogy is quietly about continuance, about God carrying his purpose forward through ordinary people living and having children and dying. Your life is a link in something longer than yourself. Number your days honestly, and give them to the God who is carrying his purpose through them.

Lord, my days are numbered, and I would rather forget it. Teach me to number them honestly, and to trust that you carry your purpose through even my short life.