Several of our readers have expressed an interest in reading more Biblical history articles on the blog. I too have a passion to understand the BIG STORY and fit the pieces together. Too many people have relegated the Biblical accounts, especially in the book of Genesis to mere myth or to symbolic tales with no real grounding in history or science.

I choose to believe that the Biblical account is as it says it is, requiring no extra interpretation. I believe with all my heart that what we find in the early chapters of Genesis are a faithful account of what occurred in the conception and infancy of the universe as we know it, written and inspired by the only Person who was actually there, God Himself.

The Science of Origins

In reality, the ‘science’ of origins is not a science at all. Scientific practice really requires that one is able to observe and repeat any process or experiment in order to establish a firm understanding of that which is taking place. Obviously, this is impossible in regard to the origin of our universe. No one can go back and observe what took place, and no one can repeat a process they have not observed. Whatever stand we take therefore, is a matter of faith. Believing something we have not seen! (Hebrews 11:1-2).

The Long Ages of the Biblical Patriarchs

One of the most unusual features of pre-flood humanity are the ages of the patriarchs’ lives. And when we say long, we really mean loooooonnnnnnngggggg.

These long ages were the result of the perfect environment afforded by the early world. This was significantly upset by the catastrophic events of the flood, and a sharp decline in longevity results. Also, death was never intended to be a part of man’s existence, and the work of sin and death, with its devastating results, were still in the early stages.

If we choose to believe Moses’ account of these early centuries of the human race (which we do), we discover some fascinating facts.

How old was Adam when he died? 930 years old.

This means that Noah’s father, Lamech, could have personally known the original man.

It is also interesting, to me at least, that Abram could have known Shem. Can you imagine talking to this pre-flood father about the world before the deluge, and hear the stories that had been passed from grandfather to father to son from Adam and Eve’s own mouth about a world without sin and its consequences. No wonder Abram desired a city whose Builder and Maker was God (Hebrews 11:10)

The Oldest man in history, buy why?

The oldest man in history is also there among the line up, Methuselah. Why was he so old? Because of God’s patience and mercy. Methuselah’s father was a prophet called Enoch (Incidentally Enoch actually prophesied the second coming of Christ, see the little book of Jude toward the end of the Bible to read about Enoch’s prophesy). He also gave his son Methuselah a prophetic name packed with meaning. Methuselah literally means “his death shall bring”. This seems a strange name to call your kid until you realise that the year Methuselah died, the great flood came. God was holding out for men to repent so the flood could be averted, just as today He holds back the second coming of His Son for the very same reason.

“But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:8-9

And in a similar way, men scoffed at Noah until the rain began, just as they scoff today at the foolish idea that Jesus will return from Heaven just as the Bible says.

“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” 2 Peter 3:4-7

As In The Days of Noah

Our days are like the days of Noah.

“But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matthew 24:37-39

Let us not be caught unawares.

Enoch was right the first time round with the prophesy he packaged in the name of his long-living son. This is a guy who was so close to the Lord, God didn’t even wait until he died to take him home (Genesis 5:24; Hebrews 11:5). With a track record like that it would be well worth taking note of his word about our day, recorded in Jude:

“And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” Jude 14,15

What do you think?

If you want more awesome information about the Genesis account of history check out the Spirit Life Bible School resources on the subject at:

http://www.jesuschrist.co.uk/spiritlife/lesson-modules/3-genesis/

We’ve covered some pretty big subjects in this short post. I would love to hear what you have to say about this? Leave a comment, ask a question, send out a Tweet and see what others have to say.