real.solid.

stories LESSON 4

CORNERSTONECONNECTIONS
JANUARY282023

Scripture Story: Genesis 4:25–6:2.

Commentary: Patriarchs and Prophets (or Beginning of the End ),
chapter 6.

a very long walk with God

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17
Photo by Luis Guerra, Jr.

keytext
“When Enoch had lived 65 years,
he became the father of Methuse-

flashlight lah. After he became the father of

Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully
“But after the birth of his first son, Enoch reached a higher experience; he was drawn into with God 300 years and had other
a closer relationship with God. He realized more fully his own obligations and responsibility sons and daughters. Altogether,

as a son of God. And as he saw the child’s love for its father, its simple trust in his pro-
Enoch lived a total of 365 years.
Enoch walked faithfully with God;
tection; as he felt the deep, yearning tenderness of his own heart for that firstborn son, he
then he was no more, because God
learned a precious lesson of the wonderful love of God to men in the gift of His Son, and
took him away.”
the confidence which the children of God may repose in their heavenly Father” (Patriarchs
(Genesis 5:21-24, NIV)
and Prophets, p. 84).
 what
the father of
Kenan, Enosh lived
815 years and had other sons
and daughters. Altogether, Enosh

do you think?
lived a total of 905 years, and then he
died.
Make a list of a few character qualities or personality traits
“When Kenan had lived 70 years,
that seem to run in your family. They can be physical attri­butes, per-
he became the father of Mahalalel.

INTO
sonality traits, or beliefs and values. How are these passed on?
After he became the father of Maha-

THE
lalel, Kenan lived 840 years and had
Traits/Qualities How passed on
other sons and daughters. Altogether,
_____________ _____________
STORY Kenan lived a total of 910 years, and
then he died.
_____________ _____________
“This is the written ac- “When Mahalalel had lived 65 years,
_____________ _____________ ­count of Adam’s family line. he became the father of Jared. After
he became the father of Jared, Maha-
Agree or Disagree. The tendency to live fully “When God created mankind, lalel lived 830 years and had other
for God is something you are taught more than he made them in the likeness of sons and daughters. Alto­ gether,
something you inherit through your family God. He created them male and Mahalalel lived a total of 895 years,
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genes. female and blessed them. And he and then he died.

named them ‘Mankind’ when they
Why did you respond the way you did?
were created. “When Jared had lived 162 years, he
What kinds of things are genetically passed
became the father of Enoch. After he
on from generation to generation and what
“When Adam had lived 130 years, he became the father of Enoch, Jared
kinds of things are learned as one grows
had a son in his own likeness, in his lived 800 years and had other sons
up in a certain environment?
own image; and he named him Seth. and daughters. Altogether, Jared lived
After Seth was born, Adam lived a total of 962 years, and then he died.
800 years and had other sons and
daughters. Altogether, Adam lived a “When Enoch had lived 65 years, he
total of 930 years, and then he died. became the father of Methuselah. After
he became the father of Methuselah,
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did you “When Seth had lived 105 years,
he became the father of Enosh.
Enoch walked faithfully with God 300
years and had other sons and daugh-

know? After he became the father of

Enosh, Seth lived 807 years
and had other sons and
ters. Altogether, Enoch lived a total of
365 years. Enoch walked faithfully with
God; then he was no more, because
dam lived 930
daughters. Altogether, Seth God took him away.”
years, and many
lived a total of 912 years,
of his descen- (Genesis 5:1-24, NIV)
and then he died.
dants lived several
centuries. Since
“When Enosh had
Adam and Eve lived alongside
lived 90 years, he
many of the generations that
became the father
eventually populated the earth,
of Kenan. After
firsthand stories of the Garden of
he became
Eden, the serpent, and the prom-
ise of grace were readily available.
It is hard to imagine, but Adam,
while he was still alive, was a great-
great-great-great-great-great-great-great-
grandfather. Now that’s a little difficult to understand!
OUT punch lines
OF THE “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8, NIV).

STORY “By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death:
‘He could not be found, because God had taken him away.’ For before he
Read through the entire passage about the lineage was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without
of Enoch. Underline initial insights you have as you faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to
read this passage. him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who
earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:5, 6, NIV).
Which names are you most familiar with? Which names are
new? “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me
and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you
can do nothing” (John 15:5, NIV).

“Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus

did” (1 John 2:6, NIV).
On a piece of paper, make a time line that shows how long each person
“Enoch, the seventh from Adam, proph-
lived and how long each generation overlapped the others. How many
esied about them: ‘See, the Lord is coming
descendants listed in this passage were born while Adam was still living?
with thousands upon thousands of his holy

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ones to judge everyone, and to convict all
of them of all the ungodly acts they have
committed in their ungodliness, and of all
the defiant words ungodly sinners have
spoken against him’ ” (Jude 14, 15, NIV).
What do you think were the lessons that were passed on from generation to
generation? If you could pass on godly advice to the next generation, what
would you say (in 20 words or less)?

further
When did Enoch actually begin walking with God? Why do you think the
birth of Methuselah would have been that significant?
insight 19

“The loveliness of the char-

acter of Christ will be seen
in His followers.”—Ellen G. White,
What do you think is meant by the statement that Enoch “walked Steps to Christ, p. 59.
with God”? What would that look like in the life of someone today?

Why do you think God “took” Enoch when He had

not “taken” others who were faithfully devoted
to Him?
 connectingtolife
Sabbath Monday tant for you right now, and write that lesson in
Read Romans 12:2. Read Genesis 5:21-24. a sentence or two. Share with someone why

C omplete the exercise in the What Do You

Think? section. How do you think the
character qualities you described are passed
R ead the Key Text for this week and think
about the events in your life that have
been turning points for you. According to this
you think it is so important.

on from one generation to the next? Is it sim- verse, the birth of Enoch’s son was a huge
ply genetics? Is it only something you learn turning point when Enoch started to walk with
as you go through life? What is one quality God in a whole new way. Are you at a turning Friday
that you received from your parents or fam- point in your life? Write a prayer to God. Talk Read 1 John 2:6.
ily members that you want to hold on to and
perhaps pass on to your children one day?
to Him about making this day the first day of a
new direction in your life. R eflect on the moments of your life when
you have felt very close to God as well as
the moments when God seemed very distant.
Tuesday What elements of your life contribute to the
Read Hebrews 11:5, 6. closeness you feel to God?

Consider Paul’s challenge in Romans 12:2:

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world,
R ead the quote in the Flashlight section
about Enoch’s defining moment at the
birth of Methuselah. What do you think people
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but be transformed by the renewing of your learn about a relationship with God when they
mind” (NIV). What are some patterns you see become parents? What do you learn about a What things in your life create distance be-
in your life that you want to change? relationship with God from the viewpoint of a tween you and God?
child? Clearly, becoming a parent has a way
of transforming someone. Ask someone who
has a real walk with God what keeps them
closest to God in their journey. Invite them to
Start your change today with prayer, and follow share with you the Bible character that most The Bible says, “Whoever claims to live in
Paul’s counsel to let the transformation begin inspires their walk with God. him must live as Jesus did” (1 John 2:6, NIV).
with your mind. Where will you walk today? Think about the
Wednesday places and the people and the things you will
Sunday
20 Read Genesis 5:1. R ead the Punch Lines for this week and
identify the verse that most urgently
have to walk to today. How would Jesus walk
in those places if He were here? When you

R ead the selection from Genesis 5 in the

Into the Story section. Try not to get
bogged down because you are reading a gene-
speaks to you. Why do you think it does? High-
light or underline in the other verses the key
phrases that speak to you and identify some-
walk today, invite Jesus to show you His style
of walking, and practice the walk of Christ.

alogy. Genealogies can be loaded with insight, one with whom you might be able to share
but you have to look carefully. Follow the ques- your insights. Pray that God will give you the
tions in Out of the Story and give this historical opportunity and the courage to say the words
survey a chance to speak. The Bible says that that might be a blessing to someone else in
“when God created mankind, he made them in the coming week.
the likeness of God” (Genesis 5:1, NIV). What
does this statement mean to you? How much Thursday this week’s reading*
like God are we and in what ways? As you read Read Jude 14, 15. Patriarchs and Prophets (or Be-
ginning of the End), chapter 6.
the details of this passage, what do you think
is the message God is trying to give you today? R ead chapter 6 in Patriarchs and Prophets
and note the rich insight that Ellen White
offers on the life of Enoch and the world in
*Beginning of the End is a special adaptation of
Patriarchs and Prophets, created for you by the Ellen
which he lived. In many ways, Enoch’s world G. White Estate and Pacific Press. Get more infor-
is much like our world today in thought and in mation about it at www.cornerstoneconnections.net
practice. Choose the lesson that emerges in /article/191/about-us/conflict-of-the-ages-compan
this chapter that you think is the most impor- ion-books#.URlhF1rBO9s. By following the weekly
reading plan, you will read at least one book of the
Conflict of the Ages series each year.