Genesis 4:26. Wanted: Men Who Will Call on God Together

Genesis 4:26. “And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the Lord”

    Really? Until the birth of Adam’s grandson to his third son men started to call on God? Well, that took forever! But then, I’m no better. How often do I wait way longer than I should to call on the name of the Lord? If I’m honest, it happens to me almost every day. There is always something going on in my life that either seems too trivial to merit calling on God for help. “I’ve got this, no big deal” seems to be the subconscious default. Big mistake. Lord, please teach me to call on you all day long, all the days of my life. 

    Coming back to our text, perhaps the real emphasis, especially considering the immediate context, is that Cain made the decision to completely cut off communication with God. He considered himself God-forsaken when he was the one who had forsaken God. “Cain went out from the presence of the Lord” when the Lord had sought him out even in his desperate wickedness and sin. From then on, Cain refused to call on the name of the Lord, and by precept and example taught his children the same deadly habit. 

    But what about Adam? Wasn’t he still calling on the Lord? I bet he was, and nonstop, after what happened with his first two boys. But he was just one man! And maybe Seth didn’t really feel his great need to call on the Lord until he had his first son and realized, “oh boy, I can’t do this father thing! I need help!” So then he began to join his dad in calling on the Lord in earnest, and so it was that men began to call on the name of the Lord! I like to think that they did it together, and that their united prayer and the resulting transformation of their lives as they learned to abide in Christ and intentionally mentor their children and grandchildren set the foundation for a faithful lineage of god-fearing, faithful men who would carry the torch of truth while the world rushed headlong toward total depravity. So how about now? Where are the men who will unite in prayer today for the Lord to raise up a standard against the enemy who has come in like a flood?