Genesis 1-6 // Matthew 1-2

At first glance, Genesis 1-6 and Matthew 1-2 do not appear to overlap. After all, Matthew doesn't even start his genealogy until Abraham, and each Old Testament passage quoted comes after the Law. However, there are things to notice which point to Christ.

Of course, Genesis 3:15 is clearly understood as Messianic. The Seed (Jesus) will strike the head of the Serpent (Satan). This strike will cause pain to the Seed as well, but not ultimately fatal.

Peter also tells us we should understand the ark as a picture of Jesus. Therefore, Genesis 6 provides a shadow of the saving work that Christ will accomplish on our behalf.

We can also see the intention of God. He is not reacting to the actions of man. He is acting, know the past, present and future all at once, and causing all things to work for His glory. The first words of creation were spoken with the sacrifice of Christ in full view. This can be seen when the Triune God says, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over..." Multiplication was always in mind.

But not just random multiplication. God is very interested in the Seed. Satan tries to snuff this out by destroying Abel. Abel appears to understand the need for blood atonement, and Cain--who rejects this--takes Cain's life. However, we quickly see that God will bring the seed through Seth.

Because Seth's lineage provides very little detail, we can sometimes assume that not much was happening in their lives. In fact, those details which we see (eg. Men began to call upon the Lord) are usually statements of virtue. We could be tempted to believe these men were perfect, not struggling with sin. We're also reminded that Moses' intention is not simply historical. Throughout Seth's lineage we read, "and he had other sons and daughters." Yet Moses is not concerned with these sons and daughters. It is not that they are insignificant, they are created in God's image too. However, they do not serve the purpose of drawing the line to the Seed, therefore Moses does not bother to bring out their details.

However, Cain's lineage provides a different picture. Lamach is a murderer and adulterer. He sees the shedding of blood not as his atonement, but as a means to gain from others. Yet we see God's general grace in that some of Cain's men helped develop tools that make life easier for men.

It's interesting that Cain's lineage has a lot of similarity to Seth's. In Cain's line, Enoch's grandson gave birth to Methushael who gave birth to Lamech. In Seth's line, Enoch gave birth to Methuselah who gave birth to Lamech. This should not confuse us or cause us to doubt the validity of the Text, it just illustrates to us the two lines have more in common than we might think.

Ultimately, this is visible in the line which Matthew produces for us. What do we find in the line of the Seed? Perfection? Hardly. In one man, David, we find the common grace seen in Jubal, but we also see the murderer/adulterer found in Lamech. Yet, David, like the men in Enosh's day called upon the name of the Lord.

These accounts are not simple history. They are the story, like Noah, that in the midst of sin and depravity that has effected all men from Adam down, God allows some to find grace in His sight. This grace has always been directed beyond skin coverings and the ark, and ultimately to Jesus!