Genesis 4:20-21. Cattlemen and Musicians First, or Christians?

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Charles Russell, 1919 public domain

Genesis 4:20-21. “And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle. And his brother’s name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.”

The names of Adah’s boys sound like twins. According to Strongs concordance, both names come from the same root word “yâbal,” (H2986) which means “flowing stream” or “to bring, carry or lead.” Neither lad seems to have been short on flow of inspiration or leadership abilities. Jabal rejected the city dwelling of his forefathers and adopted the nomadic lifestyle of a herdsman, a similar profession to that of his great uncle Abel. Is it mere coincidence that their names rhyme, as well as their professions? Did Jabal’s mother Adah perhaps have immediate family ties to the lineage of Seth? In any case, the record stands that all the tent-dwellers and cattle keepers took him as their patriarch and their example. 

Jabal’s brother Jubal on the other hand, was a musician and a talented creator of instruments. Taking the text at face value, he not only knew how to handle string and wind instruments, but he invented them! He also passed on his skills and occupation to his children, and no doubt also became an inspiration to many outside of his family. Both Jabal and Jubal were good enough at what they did that their professions stuck like a family heirloom. If they had been as faithful in passing on an eternal spiritual legacy of a life of faith in Christ and full surrender to Him, the story of their children could have been very different. What will you pass on to posterity? Will your influence end with the death of this planet, or hit a wall in your family circle, or will it expand with the universe for eternity? 





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Ezra James
The Word of God is bread from heaven. God sent it, but we must gather it, appreciate it, digest it, and live by it. These days it is increasingly scarce. Many are starving for it and don't know it because they keep feasting on bad bread that doesn't satisfy. But if we would learn to carefully gather up the fragments of the True, Heavenly Bread of Life, we would always enjoy a feast of crumbs, because even God's crumbs are miracles mighty to save (Mark 7:24-30). ESPAÑOL: La Palabra de Dios es pan del cielo. Dios lo envió, pero debemos recogerlo, apreciarlo, digerirlo y vivir por él. Hoy en día es cada vez más escaso. Muchos están muriendo de hambre por falta de él sin saberlo porque se alimentan de pan falso que no satisface. Pero si aprendiéramos a recoger cuidadosamente los fragmentos del Verdadero Pan Celestial, Pan de Vida, siempre disfrutaríamos de un banquete de migajas, porque hasta las migajas de Dios son milagros poderosos para salvar (Marcos 7:24-30).