A New Legacy
Posted by Karah
Pause
Romans 2:4 tells us that God’s kindness leads us to repentance. How has God’s kindness affected you? Meditate on His kindness as you begin your time with Him.
Skim over Genesis 4:17-24, then read Genesis 4:25-26 very carefully. Compare Cain and Seth’s legacies. We know that Cain’s sin was multiplied by his descendents. It appears that Seth’s faithfulness was also multiplied by his. If you were designing a symbol to reflect each legacy, what would you use? Write or sketch your thoughts below.
“A son was born to Seth also, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to call on the name of Yahweh.”
—Genesis 4:26
Enosh: Like the name Adam, Enosh means humanity or humankind. The term is often used in the Old Testament to refer to the frailty or insignificance of humanity. How does Enosh’s birth mark a new and brighter future for humanity?
Call on: From a Hebrew word that can mean cry out for, preach, or proclaim. The phrase is used to denote worship of God. Even in a world riddled with sin, God was still calling people to Himself, seeking out believers who would put their faith and trust in Him.
Yahweh: God’s personal name, as revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:15. How does the use of God’s personal name reflect His desire for a relationship with humanity? How does it point to His redemptive nature? Explain.
The Point
Even though our world is immersed in sin, God is still calling people to Himself.
Behind the Story
The world described in Genesis 4 contrasts sharply with the perfection found in Genesis 1. Instead of the peace and security of the garden, the Genesis 4 world is characterized by violence, murder, and conflict. In this chapter, two groups begin to emerge: those who are indifferent to sin and those who worship the Lord. How is this a fitting description of our world today?
Respond
Prayerfully consider what kind of legacy you’re leaving. If you aren’t a Christian, you’re leaving a legacy of sin and hopelessness, like Cain. Today, will you accept God’s invitation to know Him intimately and leave a legacy of hope and faith to those around you?
If you are a Christian, think about how Seth’s dependence on God became a legacy for the generations that followed. Meditate on this question: If your faith and actions were multiplied to those around you, what kind of faith would you be passing on?
As a believer, you are a glimmer of hope in a dark world, just as Seth’s line was. What choices will you make today to proclaim the name of the Lord in your actions, words, and thoughts? Jot down three.
Posted in Boys, Devotions | Tagged Camp Ridgecrest Alumni and Friends, Camp Ridgecrest for Boys, Reprinted from ec magazine. © 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Used by permission., Weekly Devotions