1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;

3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:

6 And Seth lived an hundred and five years, and begat Enos:

9 And Enos lived ninety years, and begat Cainan:

12 And Cainan lived seventy years, and begat Mahalaleel:

15 And Mahalaleel lived sixty and five years, and begat Jared:

18 And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and he begat Enoch:

21 And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:

25 And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years, and begat Lamech:

28 And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son:

29 And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord hath cursed.

I mentioned yesterday that the biblical narrative will now focus on the line of Seth, and those that believe in God and follow His precepts. And here in chapter 5 we have the descendants of Seth listed out for eight generations. Genealogical lines like this are, of course, a big thing throughout the bible, and we will come across many more chapters just like this.

It is much less common today to so meticulously track one’s ancestral lines. Most of that information is readily available, due to the digitization of genealogical records, but I don’t believe I am unique in saying that I know the names of my parents and grandparents, but only a few names from the generations beyond. A lot of us don’t really know where we come.

When I have considered my unique traits, my strengths and my weaknesses, I have sometimes wondered if those qualities were inherited from somewhere down the line. I have also had moments of epiphany, where I realize how much the good things I enjoy are based upon the work of my forbearers, and not upon my own merits. I believe that by not being more familiar with my ancestry, I am somewhat limited in being able to even know myself. There are reasons for me being who I am that I am not aware of.