Fathers, Cain and Seth - 08

The root and the family tree

Sometimes godliness is found at the root of a family tree. At other times not.

Adam and Eve’s son, Seth, appears to have been an example of godly fatherhood. Cain was not. Both ruled productively. Both men were influential in the lives of their children, grandchildren, and the broader society built around them. But one produced offspring for God, the other produced them for self.

There should be no doubt, Cain’s descendants were industrious. They were a dominion-oriented people, yet apparently estranged from the Lord.

In Genesis 4:17-22, we learn:

“17Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch. 18To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. 19And Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. 20Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 21His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. 22Zillah also bore Tubal-cain; he was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron.”

Cain’s household produced people who worked. They developed skills. They made their way in the world. They were using the gifts God had given them, whether or not they chose to honor Him. There is no mention of godly fruit from Cain’s family tree.

It should’ve been asked, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”¹ This did not dawn on Cain. He built his life on the here and now. And, then, so did his descendants.

Horace Bushnell writes of such a man’s descendants, “The odor of the house will always be in his garments, and the internal difficulties with which he has to struggle will spring of the family seeds planted in his nature.”

Whereas, a sweet aroma might be the way to describe Seth’s descendants. He too planted family seeds in the nature of his household. Seth is the son God gave to Eve to replace the murdered Abel² and of his lineage we are told some good things:

“To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the LORD.”³

We don’t know much of Seth or his offspring. The bible does tells us that from Seth’s line come both Enoch and later Noah. Regarding Enoch, we learn that he walked with God and “the Lord took him.” This phrase is different from the way the rest of Seth’s descendants come to an end. They all die, but Enoch is “taken”.⁴

And regarding Noah, well, we know of his character and his importance for preserving all of mankind and all animals too.⁵

We are not given much detail of the industriousness of Seth’s household, just this vital quality of Godward-ness. Godward-ness should be the first rule of every father. It is the primary command: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37)

Also, “5You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” (Deuteronomy 6:5-7)

My wife and I decided to homeschool our children from the start. So our firstborn became the test-run of what we hoped would be a thoroughly Christian education in contrast to the public school’s secular humanism that we both grew up under.⁶

My dad was concerned. He was a teacher in the public school; a good one. He felt we might deny my son “educational advantages” by homeschooling him. I told him, “I’d sooner have a mentally disabled child who loved the Lord than a genius one who hated Him.” Years later, my dad told me how glad he was that we educated the kids ourselves.⁷

When God is at the root of the family tree, the tree will flourish. It will become like the tree Nebuchadnezzar dreamed about, in which the entire world could find shelter.⁸ This should be the householder’s vision. This is what an elder should pursue. To accomplish such goodness, surely requires commitment to the cause (staying power).

1. Jesus asks this rhetorical question in Matthew 16:26.

2. Genesis 4:25

3. Genesis 4:26

4. This suggests that he didn’t die but that God translated him from earth into His presence. This is also what happened to Elijah in his chariot of fire.

5. If you don’t know, then read Genesis Chapters 6 thru 9.

6. Secular Humanism was a proper name used often in the 1980’s. You don’t hear it as often today. It was used to describe a man-defined view of the world in contrast to God-defined reality. A short definition might go like this: Secular humanism is a worldview that emphasizes reason, ethics, and the well-being of humanity without reliance on religious or supernatural beliefs. (I say, “Good luck with that.”)

7. My dad loved my children from the start. He was a public school educator for 35 years. His concern was genuine. It was coming from an honest heart. His change of heart came from two things: 1. He witnessed my children’s intellectual and moral development. 2. He saw an increased degradation in the public schools.

8. See Daniel Chapter 4 for this dream.