Genesis 5: Away With Double-Barrel Names in Marriages

At the end of Genesis 4, we see that Adam and Eve had another son, Seth, whom Adam believed God had given them to replace Abel, whom Cain killed. We also see that Seth had a son named Enos, and from then on, men began to call upon the name of the Lord. Since chapter 4 ended on a positive note, let us explore whether the good will continue in chapter 5.

If you haven’t already, review the lessons we have deduced in chapters one, two, three, and four. 

This chapter primarily consists of Adam’s generations (the patriarchs’ genealogy, ages, and deaths). However, here are a few lessons, and then we will move on to Adam’s generation.

1. God created only two sexes, male and female.

Despite what the world wants us to believe, there are only two sexes: male and female. Your sex is assigned to you by God before you are born, and no amount of surgery can change it to suit the lifestyle you want to live. 

Men, you can buy fake boobs and a butt, grow your hair, put on makeup, and behave like a woman all you want; you are still a man. Similarly, concerning females who believe that they can dress, act, or take steroids to become masculine, you are still a woman. There is a saying: “Hurt people, hurt people.” I would like to say, “Confused people are trying to confuse people, especially our children.”

People who aspire to change their sex should be told point-blank that they are mentally challenged and should see a therapist who is equipped to help them love the person God created them to be. As we go along, we will see that God is not a sugarcoater, nor should we be. Hence, we will not conform to the world’s standards but will instead uphold our Creator’s standards.

That said, when I was a child, I played pretend. Some of you have not yet put away childish things. You are free to pretend to be someone you are not, but don’t expect others to conform, including addressing you as someone we know you are not. 

2. Away with double-barrel names in marriages

Society has reached a point where a woman is only recognized as married if she has a double-barreled name, such as Johnson-Brown. This sudden obsession with having dual names is giving people dual identities, which is contributing to the divorce rate. In Genesis 5:2, we see that Eve’s surname was her husband’s, Adam. 

Whether keeping the maiden name helps people recognize that a woman is married or helps a woman keep a famous surname, double-barreled names hinder a married couple from becoming one. The woman becomes so obsessed with her father’s name (her name) that she is afraid to part ways with it. This has left two people as two people, and that is not God’s ideal for marriage.

People have become so confused that even men are ditching their names to take the more famous partner’s name because of their social status. This is a surefire way of messing with family and DNA issues later on.

3. The importance of keeping historical family records

What a beauty it is that the records of Adam’s generation were preserved so that we, even after thousands of years, can glean insights from our foreparents’ genealogy. We should also do that for our families, especially since technology is so advanced that we can take pictures and create detailed memories for future generations. 

Just imagine that your great-great-great-grandchildren will have no idea what you look like. They won’t have the slightest idea that you were the one who took the bold step that changed the trajectory of your family, which is why they are where they are. Of course, this will not benefit you when you die, and it’s not a matter of seeking glory. It’s a matter of providing the necessary information about your family structure that you wish you had. 

Be the change. Start documenting your family’s history today!

4. People lived so much longer then.

As we continue to explore the life lessons in this chapter, we will appreciate that life expectancy was in the hundreds of years. Granted, this was a short while after Adam and Eve were disbarred from the Garden of Eden. Before sin, we were expected to live forever in communion with God.

We can appreciate that God allowed them to live that long, but if we compare their lives to ours today, there was no toxic food, wars, earthquakes, or even rain in Earth’s history. The decline of a man’s lifetime then versus now is a steep contrast, but let’s not jump the gun; we will get to the main reason for this in subsequent chapters.  

The generations of Adam are outlined below:

1. Adam lived for 930 years and died. (He begat Seth in his old age).
2. Seth lived for 912 years and died. (Enos, sons, and daughters).
3. Enos lived for 905 years and died. (Cainan, sons, and daughters).
4. Cainan lived for 910 years and died. (Mahalaleel, sons, and daughters; similar to Cain’s name).
5. Mahalaleel lived 830 years and died. (Jared, sons, and daughters).
6. Jared lived 962 years and died. (Enoch, sons, and daughters; Cain also had a son named Enoch).
7. Enoch lived 365 years and walked with God. (Methuselah, sons and daughters)
8. Methuselah lived 969 years and died. (Lamech, sons and daughters, lived the longest on earth).
9. Lamech lived 777 years and died. (Noah, sons, and daughters; 
10. Noah lived 950 years and died. (Shem, Ham, and Japheth; Genesis 9:29).

Your assignment:

1. What lessons stood out to you that you can start applying today?
2. Given the verse Genesis 4:18, would you say only the key figures from Adam’s generation were mentioned?
3. What can be said about the fluctuations in the years when each man started having children? Some started when they were over a hundred years old, and others when they were 65.
4. Did Lamech receive insight from God regarding Noah, or was he merely proclaiming good work for his son? How important is it for us to pronounce blessings upon our children?