Genesis 4:17–5:32: The Offspring of the Woman
Introduction
In everything that we have read thus far, we have only met the first generation after Adam and Eve. Our next passage, however, will stretch across hundreds of years, spanning several generations. First, we will read about the genealogy of the line of Cain in Genesis 4. Then, we will meet the line of Cain’s brother, Seth, who is born after Abel’s murder. Although we do not typically find genealogies to be interesting reading material, these passages have something important to teach us about the future of humanity as a whole, and about God’s people in particular. Specifically, the narrative of Genesis is in significant tension at this juncture. God’s creation began so well, but everything has gone so poorly. From here on out, the situation on earth could go in so many different directions. Will humanity embrace the depravity of Cain, or will God still raise up a faithful remnant?
Discussion Questions
1. How do you interact with cultural and technological advances in the world? In what ways do you appreciate innovations of art, philosophy, politics, business, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics? In what ways do you view such innovations with a critical eye? How can we appreciate and critique common grace progress?
2. What generational sins have been passed down through your family history? In what ways do you see yourself walking in those generational sins? What strategies do you have for breaking those generational sins, by the grace of God? How do you seek to avoid passing generational sins to your children after you?
3. What generational virtues have been passed down through your family history? In what ways do you see yourself walking in those generational virtues? What strategies do you have for carrying on those generational virtues in your own life, by the grace of God? How do you seek to pass down generational virtues to your children after you?
4. If God is seeking “godly offspring” (Mal. 2:15) from marriages, how does that affect our view of parenting? How do we train our children in the true worship of God from early ages? How do help them to know their Bibles and what the Bible teaches? How should we include them in corporate worship so that they walk with God all the days of their lives?
