Daily Devotional | Then He Died

The Watergate scandal of the 1970s revealed criminal activity and systematic abuse of power from the Nixon administration. It led to the arrest and conviction of 48 people and the resignation of the President. It also eroded public trust in the presidency in a way that many have still not fully recovered from.

Sin often has consequences that linger for generations. This was especially true about the sin of Adam and Eve. Genesis 5 includes one of several genealogies in the book of Genesis. Notice that every genealogical notice ends with a single word in Hebrew, “then he died.” Eight times this word is repeated. Each is a reminder that the “wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23).

The reality of death is also a good reminder for us today. Many people live in denial of death; they act like this life is all that matters. But until Jesus returns, death is a reality we will all face. Scripture reminds us to “number our days” (Ps. 90:12). Yet, this genealogy gives hope. Children are born and flourish. Families grow and thrive. Even though fallen, humans are still created in the “likeness of God” (5:1).

There is a break in the pattern of death with Enoch (vv. 21–24). We do not know much about Enoch except that he “walked faithfully with God” (v. 24). Enoch’s story reminds us that death does not have to be final nor is its rule over humanity absolute. Death is under God’s sovereign rule and it came to fruition in the resurrection of Jesus. After proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus, Paul celebrates: “Death has been swallowed up in victory” (1 Cor. 15:54). In Christ we find redemption from sin and death!

Go Deeper

What stands out to you as you read through these genealogies? How does the Christian view of death differ from the world’s view? What impact does that have on the way we live today?

Pray with Us

While we may fear the potential pain of death, as believers we know that it has already been defeated by Jesus’ sacrifice. May the shortness of our lives on earth give us single-minded focus on serving You, our Redeemer.

BY Ryan Cook

Dr. Ryan Cook has taught at Moody Bible Institute since 2012. He earned his bachelor of arts in Bible and Theology from Moody and his master of arts in Old Testament from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. He has worked in Christian education and served as a pastor in Michigan for seven years. During his time as a professor at Moody, he earned his doctorate from Asbury Theological Seminary. He now lives with his wife, Ashley, and their three children in the Chicagoland area.