Preaching The Grace Of God
From The King James Bible Dispensationally Delivered
Text: 1 Cor 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
Purpose: To encourage the saints to more study of the scriptures.
Introduction
Crypto zoology — Crypto = hidden / zoo = animals / logy = study
In 1925 an apparent Plesiosaur washed up on Moore’s Beach in Monterey Bay, California. Plesiosaurs grew to a size of 46 ft and apparently used their flippers to “fly” through the water like a penguin.
On Mann’s Hill beach, North Carolina in 1970 the corpse of a 20ft long 4,000 pound carcass of a supposedly extinct dinosaur washed ashore. It looked like a Plesiosaur.
On April 25, 1977 the Japanese fishing vessel Zuiyo Maru hauled the huge carcass aboard as it trawled for Mackerel off of the coast of New Zealand. The corpse was netted at a depth of 900 feet. It weighed about 4,000 pounds, measured 32 feet in length and was observed by 18 crewmen. Despite its decomposition it was seen to have a long neck, a long tail, four fins and a well developed spine and was obviously a Plesiosaur.
Evolutionist refuse to acknowledge the existence of such critters because it would make evolution look bad.
But the point I want to make is that there are things that are hidden, sometimes in plain sight, that would inspire us to further study if we would just take the time to look.
Col 2:1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; 2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; 3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
Crypto – Theo – logy = Study Of Things Hidden By God (I know it’s a stretch so don’t write me just enjoy LOL)
God likes to hide things…
Prov 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
Solomon said: Eccl 7:25 I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things…
The Lord Jesus told the scribes: John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
Jer 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
I want to take some time this morning to look at some things that are hidden in plain sight in our Bible… if we would take the time to search them out.
The Mystery of Methuselah
• Question: Who is the oldest man in the Bible?
• Answer: Methuselah
• Question: If Methuselah was the oldest man in the bible then how could he die before his father?
• Answer: Because his father, Enoch, never died.
Enoch is one of the most fascinating characters in the Old Testament.
The Flood of Noah did not come as a surprise. It had been preached on for 4 generations. But something strange happened when Enoch was 65, from which time “he walked with God.”
Gen 5:21 And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: 22 And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:
Enoch was, apparently, given a prophecy that as long as his son was alive, the judgment of the flood would be withheld; but as soon as he died, the flood would be sent forth.
Enoch named his son to reflect this prophecy. The name Methuselah comes from two roots: muth, a root that means “death” ; and from shalach, which means “to bring,” or “to send forth.” Thus, the name Methuselah signifies, “his death shall bring.
And, indeed, in the year that Methuselah died, the flood came.
Gen 7:6 And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth. Gen 7:11 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.
Gen 5:25 And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years, and begat Lamech: 26 And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred eighty and two years, and begat sons and daughters: 27 And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died. 28 And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son: 29 And he called his name Noah, …
Methuselah was 187 when he had Lamech and lived 782 years more.
Lamech had Noah when he was 182.
The Flood came in Noah’s 600th year.
187 + 182 + 600 = 969, Methuselah’s age when he died!!
It is interesting that Methuselah’s life was, in effect, a symbol of God’s mercy in forestalling the coming judgment of the flood. It is therefore fitting that his lifetime is the oldest in the Bible, symbolizing the extreme extensiveness of God’s mercy.
Now it takes time and effort to search these things out and we are indebted to many who have taken the time find some of these hidden treasures for us.
Since there is such significance in Methuselah’s name let’s take a look at some of the other names in this boring Old Testament list…In Genesis 4!
Adam
The first name, Adam, comes from adomah, and means “man.” As the first man, that seems straightforward enough.
Seth
Gen 4:25 And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.
Adam’s son was named Seth, which means “appointed.”
Enos or Enosh
Gen 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.
Seth’s son was called Enosh, which means “mortal,” “frail,” or “miserable.”
It is from the root anash: to be incurable; used of a wound, grief, woe, sickness, or wickedness.
Kenan (see 1 Chr 1:1 Adam, Sheth, Enosh, 2 Kenan, Mahalaleel, Jered, )
Gen 5:9 And Enos lived ninety years, and begat Cainan: (Kenan)
Enosh’s son was named Kenan, which can mean “sorrow,” dirge,” or “elegy.”
Mahalaleel
Gen 5:12 And Cainan lived seventy years, and begat Mahalaleel:
Kenan’s son was Mahalalel, from mahalal, which means “blessed” or “praise”; and El, the name for God.
Thus, Mahalaleel means “the Blessed God.”
Jared
Gen 5:15 And Mahalaleel lived sixty and five years, and begat Jared:
Mahalalel’ s son was named Jared, from the verb yaradh, meaning “shall come down.”
Enoch
Gen 5:18 And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and he begat Enoch:
Jared’s son was named Enoch, which means “teaching,” or “commencement.”
He was the first of four generations of preachers. In fact, the earliest recorded prophecy was by Enoch, which amazingly enough deals with the Second Coming of Christ.
Methuselah
Gen 5:21 And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:
As we have already seen his name means.. “His death shall bring”.
Lamech
Gen 5:25 And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years, and begat Lamech:
Methuselah’s son was named Lamech, a root still evident today in our own English word, “lament” or “lamentation.” Lamech name suggests “despairing.”
Noah
Gen 5:28 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.
Lamech, of course, is the father of Noah, which is derived from nacham , “to bring relief” or “comfort,” as Lamech himself explains in this verse.
The Composite List
Now let’s put it all together:
| Hebrew | English |
| Adam | Man |
| Seth | Appointed |
| Enosh | Mortal |
| Kenan | Sorrow |
| Mahalaleel | The Blessed God |
| Jared | Shall come down |
| Enoch | Teaching |
| Methuselah | His death shall bring |
| Lamech | despairing |
| Noah | Rest, or comfort |
Man (is) appointed mortal sorrow (but) the blessed God shall come down teaching (that) His death shall bring (the) despairing rest.
Here is a summary of God’s plan of redemption, hidden here within a genealogy in Genesis!
You will never convince me that a group of Jewish rabbis deliberately “contrived” to hide the “Christian Gospel” right here in a genealogy within their venerated Torah!
Evidences of Design
The implications of this discovery are far more deeply significant than may be evident at first glance. It demonstrates that in the earliest chapters of the Book of Genesis, God had already laid out His plan of redemption for the predicament of mankind. It is the beginning of a love story, ultimately written in blood on a wooden cross which was erected in Judea almost 2,000 years ago.
Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
This is also one of many evidences that the Bible is an integrated message system, the product of supernatural engineering. This punctures the presumptions of many who view the Bible as a record of an evolving cultural tradition, noble though it may be!!
It claims to be authored by the One who alone knows the end from the beginning, despite the fact that it is composed of 66 separate books, penned by some 40 authors, spanning several thousand years.
The Bible is an integrated message system, authored by the One who alone knows the end from the beginning – within its pages are hidden – all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. It is a love story, written in blood on a wooden cross which was erected in Judea almost 2,000 years ago
The Bible is the product of supernatural engineering. Every number, every place name, every detail every jot and tittle is there for our learning, our discovery, and our amazement.
Truly, our God is an awesome God.
It is remarkable how many subtle discoveries lie behind the little details of the text. Some of these become immediately obvious with a little study; some are more technical and require special helps.
Look behind every detail: there’s a discovery to be made! God always rewards the diligent student. What other messages lay hidden just waiting for you to discover?
Just one more note before we close…
1 Cor 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
1 Cor 2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
1 Cor 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
1 Cor 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
There are many things hidden in the scriptures for us to mine out but through the “revelation of the mystery” God has made known unto us the mystery of his will. Let’s not keep the secret a secret!